Chapter #X - Drugs Flashcards
Drug
Any substance taken into the body that modifies or affects chemical reactions in the body
Do drugs have a posotive or negative health effect?
They can have positive or negative health effects.
If drugs have no effect on health are they drugs?
No, they are not drugs by defenition
What types of diseases are drugs used to adress?
They may be used to address acute or chronic diseases or conditions.
Medicinal drugs
Drugs which are used to treat the symptoms or causes of a disease - for example, antibiotics
What does the liver have to do with drugs?
The liver is the primary site for drug metabolsim
Antibiotics
A medicinal drug that is effective against bacteria, by inhibiting bacterial cell processes.
How do antibiotics work?
- by targeting processes and structures that are specific to bacterial (prokaryotic) cells
- by disrupting cellular processes of the bacteria, such as stopping cell division, breaking the cell wall or cell membrane, inhibiting their metabolism, etc.
Do antibiotics affect viruses? Why or why not?
They affect only bacteria, not viruses as viruses do not have the features that antibiotics target e.g. cell wall
What was the first antibiotic discoverd?
Penicillin
How does penecillion work?
- Penecillin interfers with the building of bacterial cell walls
- It causes the cell to rupture when it tries to grow
Why is it a problem if bacteria become resistant to antibiotics?
Because some infection may become untreatable.
Explain in steps how bacteria become resistant to antibiotics.
What is Staphylococcus aureus
- A bacteria which lives on skin in most of us.
- It is harmless but can cause dangerous infections if it gets into the body.
What is an example of a bacteria which is becoming resistant to antibiotics?
MRSA(methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
What happens when we use antibiotics more frequently?
The more we use antibiotics, the more likely resistant populations will develop
Why is it important to restrict the use of antibiotics?
It is important to restrict the use of antibiotics to reduce the likelihood of resistant bacteria developing.
How does reducing antibiotic use affect resistant bacteria?
Less use of antibiotics means less selective advantage for resistant bacteria, leading to less resistance.
How can you reduce antibiotic resistance?
- Only use antibiotics when essential
- Complete the full course of prescribed antibiotics
- Restrict the use of antibiotics
- Isolate patients with infections of resistant bacteria
- Improved healthcare/sanitation
What is one of the most dangerous bacteria?
One of the most dangerous bacteria is MRSA: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus because it has become very resistant to antibiotica and develops quickly.
What is the worst-case scenario of antibiotic resistance?
- Certain strains of bacteria may become resistant to several antibiotics – including entire groups of antibiotics.
- Scientists try to stay one step ahead of the evolution process that leads to antibiotic resistance
- However, some bacteria have already developed resistance even to “last-resort” antibiotics, like Vancomycin.
- Infections with multidrug-resistant strains of bacteria are more likely to happen in hospitals.
