Chapter 179 - macrolides

Question 1

molecular structure of macrolides?

Answer 1

macrocyclic lactone ring with a sugar attached

Question 2

MOA?

Answer 2

reversibly binds to 50s ribosomal subunit, blocks translocation (RNA dependent protein synthesis)

Question 3

why shouldn’t you cut erythromycin tablets?

Answer 3

acid labile - enteric coating must remain intact or rapidly degraded by gastric acid

Question 4

most common mechanism of low grade resistance to macrolides?

Answer 4

efflux pump excretes drug out of cell

Question 5

what are macrolides derived from?

Answer 5

products of Streptomyces spp

Question 6

actual drug class of azithromycin? chief difference between this class and classic macrolides?

Answer 6

azalide (nitrogen molecule present in macrolide ring) - confers greater stability

Question 7

widespread resistance to macrolides typically occurs by which mechanism?

Answer 7

gene coding for methylation of the drug’s target site is transferred via a plasmid