chapter 11 Flashcards
What are antimicrobial drugs used for?
To fight bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections
Antimicrobial drugs work by targeting specific vulnerabilities in pathogens.
What is the primary goal of antimicrobial drugs?
To interfere with the metabolism or structure of microorganisms
This interference is crucial in eradicating infections.
What is the difference between microbicidal and microbiostatic drugs?
Microbicidal drugs kill microbes directly, while microbiostatic drugs inhibit growth
The choice depends on the severity of the infection and the patient’s immune status.
How do penicillin and cephalosporins work?
They inhibit cell wall synthesis by targeting the peptidoglycan layer
This is essential for bacterial cell wall integrity.
What makes bacterial cells susceptible to lysis when treated with certain antibiotics?
Weakened cell walls make bacteria susceptible to osmotic pressure
This results in cell rupture and death.
What is selective toxicity in the context of antimicrobial drugs?
The ability to harm microorganisms while sparing host cells
This is essential for minimizing treatment side effects.
What are the mechanisms of antimicrobial action?
Inhibition of cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis, nucleic acid synthesis, plasma membrane disruption, and metabolic pathways
Understanding these mechanisms is essential for selecting effective treatment strategies.
What is the significance of the spectrum of action in antimicrobial drugs?
Refers to the range of microorganisms an antimicrobial can effectively target
Critical for proper drug selection.
What are broad-spectrum antibiotics?
Antibiotics effective against a large variety of microorganisms
Useful in treating a wide range of infections.
What is the Kirby-Bauer method used for?
Testing antimicrobial susceptibility
It involves measuring the zone of inhibition around an antimicrobial disk.
What is the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC)?
The lowest concentration of an antibiotic that prevents visible microbial growth
Important for determining drug effectiveness.
What are common side effects of antimicrobial drugs?
Liver damage, kidney damage, cardiovascular damage, and nervous system damage
Awareness of these is crucial for monitoring patient health.
What is antimicrobial resistance?
The ability of microbes to resist the effects of drugs
It poses a significant threat to global health.
Name two mechanisms by which microbes develop resistance.
- Genetic mutations
- Resistance gene acquisition
These changes help microbes evade antimicrobial effects.
What does selective targeting in antimicrobial therapy ensure?
Safety and effectiveness by sparing human cells
This is particularly important for drugs targeting peptidoglycan.
What is the role of adherence in preventing drug resistance?
Ensures complete eradication of infection and prevents the survival of resistant strains
Antibiotics must be taken as prescribed.
What is the importance of drug solubility in antimicrobial therapy?
Crucial for adequate concentration at the infection site
Insufficient solubility can limit drug effectiveness.
What are superbugs?
Microbes with multiple resistances that require last-resort antibiotics
They may cause untreatable infections.
Fill in the blank: Antimicrobial agents should complement and aid the host’s _______.
[natural defenses]
What is a critical characteristic of antimicrobial agents regarding shelf life?
Impacts immediate availability and storage ease
A longer shelf life contributes to better accessibility.
True or False: Microbicidal agents prevent the growth of microorganisms.
False
Microbicidal agents kill microorganisms directly.
What should be done with leftover antibiotics?
Discarded properly to prevent misuse
This helps in limiting the selection of resistant bacteria.
Why must antibiotics be taken as prescribed?
To ensure complete eradication of infection and prevent the survival of resistant strains.
How should leftover medications be disposed of?
They should be discarded properly to prevent misuse and the selection of resistant bacteria.
