Chapters 43 Definitions SLO 2.1

Question 1

Antibiotic

Answer 1

Having the ability to destroy or interfere with the development of a living organism; most commonly refers to antibacterial drugs. (p. 692)

Question 2

Antimicrobial stewardship

Answer 2

An institutional activity that includes ensuring appropriate selection, dosing, choice of route, and duration of antimicrobial therapy. (p. 695)

Question 3

Antiseptic

Answer 3

One of two types of topical antimicrobial agents; a chemical that inhibits the growth and reproduction of microorganisms without necessarily killing them. Antiseptics are also called static agents. (p. 694)

Question 4

Bactericidal antibiotics

Answer 4

that kill bacteria. (p. 698)

Question 5

Bacteriostatic antibiotics

Answer 5

that do not kill bacteria but rather inhibit their growth. (p. 697)

Question 6

Beta-lactam

Answer 6

A broad, major class of antibiotics that includes four subclasses: penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems, and monobactams, so named because of the beta-lactam ring that is part of the chemical structure of all drugs in this class. (p. 698)

Question 7

Beta-lactamase

Answer 7

Any of a group of enzymes produced by bacteria that catalyze the chemical opening of the crucial beta-lactam ring structures in beta-lactam antibiotics. (p. 698)

Question 8

Beta-lactamase inhibitors

Answer 8

Medications combined with certain penicillin drugs to block the effect of beta-lactamase enzymes. (p. 698)

Question 9

Colonization

Answer 9

The establishment and growth of microorganisms on skin, open wounds, or mucous membranes or in secretions without causing an infection. (p. 693)

Question 10

Community-acquired infection

Answer 10

An infection that is acquired by a person who has not recently been hospitalized or had a medical procedure (e.g., surgical procedure). (p. 693)

Question 11

Targeted therapy

Answer 11

The administration of antibiotics based on known results of culture and sensitivity testing identifying the pathogen causing infection. (p. 694)

Question 12

Disinfectant

Answer 12

One of two types of topical antimicrobial agents; a chemical applied to nonliving objects to kill microorganisms; also called cidal agents. (p. 694)

Question 13

Empiric therapy

Answer 13

The administration of antibiotics based on the health care provider’s judgement of the pathogens most likely causing an apparent infection; It involves the presumptive treatment of an infection to avoid treatment delay, before specific culture information has been obtained. (p. 694)

Question 14

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency

Answer 14

An inherited disorder in which red blood cells are partially or completely deficient in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, a crucial enzyme in the metabolism of glucose. (p. 696)

Question 15

Health care–associated infection

Answer 15

An infection acquired during the course of receiving treatment for another condition in a health care facility. The infection is not present or incubating at the time of admission; also known as a nosocomial infection. (p. 693)

Question 16

Host factors

Answer 16

that are unique to a particular patient that affect the patient’s susceptibility to infection and response to antibiotic drugs; examples include a low neutrophil count or a lack of immunoglobulins in the blood that carry antibodies. (p. 695)

Question 17

Infections

Answer 17

Invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in body tissues. (p. 692)

Question 18

Microorganisms

Answer 18

Microscopic living organisms; also called microbes. (p. 692)

Question 19

Prophylactic antibiotic therapy

Answer 19

Antibiotics taken before anticipated exposure to an infectious organism in an effort to prevent the development of infection. (p. 694)

Question 20

Pseudomembranous colitis

Answer 20

A potentially necrotizing inflammatory bowel condition that is often associated with antibiotic therapy; often caused by the bacterium Clostridium difficile; also called by the more general term
antibiotic-associated colitis. (p. 695)

Question 21

Slow acetylation

Answer 21

A common genetic host factor in which the rate of metabolism of certain drugs is reduced. (p. 696)

Question 22

Subtherapeutic

Answer 22

Generally refers to blood levels below therapeutic levels due to insufficient dosing. Also refers to antibiotic treatment that is ineffective in treating a given infection. Possible causes include inappropriate drug therapy, insufficient drug dosing, or bacterial drug resistance. (p. 695)

Question 23

Superinfection

Answer 23

(1) An infection occurring during antimicrobial treatment for another infection, resulting from overgrowth of an organism not susceptible to the antibiotic used. (2) A secondary microbial infection that occurs in addition to an earlier primary infection, often because of weakening of the patient’s immune system function by the first infection. (p. 695)

Question 24

Teratogens

Answer 24

Substances that can interfere with normal prenatal development and cause one or more developmental abnormalities in the fetus. (p. 696)

Question 25

Therapeutic

Answer 25

Antibiotic therapy that is given in sufficient doses so that the concentration of the drug in the blood or other tissues renders it effective against specific bacterial pathogens. (p. 694)