Antimicrobials Reading Flashcards
What are 4 common mechanisms of antibacterial resistance?
- altering receptor targets
- decreased entry or efflux of drug out of microorganisms
- alterations in metabolic pathway
- inactivation of the drug
What are the 4 main targets of antibacterials?
- cell wall synthesis
- protein synthesis
- folic acid biosynthesis
- DNA/RNA synthesis
What is drug synergism?
When two drugs that have different mechanisms are used in conjunction to achieve amplified effects
How do penicillins work?
they inhibit cell wall synthesis by preventing formation of the peptidoglycan layer of the cell wall.
What do penicillins bind to?
transpeptidase enzyme, whose function is to cross-link N-acetyl muramic acid and N-acetyl glucosamine.
AND
they activate autolysins which destroy cell walls.
AND
carboxypeptidases and endopeptidases
There are several others and they are all referred to as penecillin-binding proteins (PBPs)
List the common PBPs.
transpeptidases, autolysins, carboxypeptidases, endopeptidases
How can bugs become resistant to penicillins?
modify their PBPs
actively pump the drug out of the cell
celave the B-lactam ring of penicillins with B-lactamases
alter their porins to prevent drugs from reaching PBPs
What will happen if penecillins are used in conjunction with bacteriostatics?
bacteriostatics halt cell growth. Penecillins rely on the cell growing and building cell wall to kill it. There will be a antagonistic interaction.
What type of drug is tetracycline?
it is a bacteriostatic which prevents cell growth and replication
What effect can penicillin have on oral contraceptives?
oral contraceptives rely on bacteria in the gut that cleave estrogen-glucoronide conjugates and allow for estrogenic reabsorption. These natural flora are often killed by penecillin, causing concern that the drug half-life may be decreased when on antibiotics
Can penicillin V be given orally? Penicillin G?
Yes. It is acid stable, unlike penicillin G, which is destroyed in the GI tract so can only be given IM
What are aminopenicillins?
Include ampicillin and amoxicillin. Synthetic penicillins that can be given enterally or parenterally.
What are penicillinase-resistant penicillins?
dicloxacillin, methicillin, oxacillin, nafcillin. They contain side groups that protect the drug from bacterial B-lactamases.
How is dicloxacillin usually given?
orally
How are methicillin, oxacillin, and nafcillin usually given?
parenterally.
What are antipseudomonal penicillins?
extended-spectrum penicillins. Inlcude carbenicillin, ticarcillin, mezlocillin and piperacillin. All except carbenicillin must be given parenterally.
What type of infections is oral carbenicillin useful for?
only reaches therapeutic levels in urinary tract
What are irreversible inhibitors of B-lactamases?
clavulanic acid, sulbactam, tazobactam. They inhibit B-lactamases to protect penicillins.
What are cephalosporins?
structurally resemble penicillin and possess B-lactam backbone, but are very stable to pH changes and can be taken with or without food.
If a patient reports they are allergic to penicillin is it ok to give them cephalosporins?
no. Cephalosporins are very similar to penicillin structurally and will likely cause an adverse reaction
What are carbapenems?
include imipenem, doripenem, ertapenem, and meropenem. Bactericidals that inhibit cell wall synthesis. B-lactam with a different structure so resistant to B-lactamases
What are telavancin and vancomycin?
interfere with cell wall by blocking polymerization and cross-linking of peptidoglycan by binding to the D-Ala-D-Ala portion of cell walls. Telavancin also disrupts membrane potential and changes cell permeability because of lipophilic side chain.
What is cycloserine?
inhibits cell wall synthesis in Gram- bacteria. Reserved for mycobacterium tuberculosis that is resistant to first-line antitubercular drugs
What is polymyxin B?
bactericidal for Gram- (except Proteus). It is a cationic detergent that disrupts lipoproteins in cell walls, thus increasing membrane permeability.
Which types of drugs interfere with bacterial protein synthesis?
aminoglycosides, macrolides, and tetracyclines
What are aminoglycosides?
amikacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, netilmicin, streptomycin, tobramycin, and neomycin. Bind to 30S ribosomal subunits to interfere with protein synthesis. Interfere with formation of initiation complex, misread mRNA and miscode AAs in growing peptides, and cause ribosomes to separate from mRNA, creating monosomes.
Can aminoglycosides be given orally?
no they are too water soluble. They are usually given parenterally. Penetrate the CNS and have short half-lives.
Where can aminoglycosides accumulate?
inner ear and renal cortex., causing nephro and oto-toxicity
What is the postantibiotic effect?
because aminoglycosides have a translational mechanism, microorganisms continue to die even after drug concentration declines.
Will aminoglycosides kill gram+ bacteria?
No, they are only effective for gram- bacterium