Exam 4: Antimicrobial Drugs

Question 1

Drugs are chemicals that

Answer 1

affect physiology in any manner

Question 2

Chemotherapeutic agents are drugs that

Answer 2

act against diseases

Question 3

Antimicrobial agents are drugs that

Answer 3

treat infections

Question 4

Examples of drugs

Answer 4

medications, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco

Question 5

Examples of chemotherapeutic agents

Answer 5

insulin, anticancer drugs, antimicrobials

Question 6

Examples of Antimicrobial agents

Answer 6

antibiotics, antivirals, anti protozoans, antifungals, antihelminthics

Question 7

The key to antimicrobial action is

Answer 7

selective toxicity

Question 8

Selective toxicity

Answer 8

more toxic to pathogen than to the pathogen’s host

Question 9

The largest number and diversity is found in

Answer 9

antibacterial drugs

Question 10

there are ______ drugs available to treat eukaryotic infections

Answer 10

fewer

Question 11

The least amount of medication is available for

Answer 11

viral infections

Question 12

Mechanisms of Action of Antimicrobial drugs

Answer 12

1. Selectively toxic to fungal or bacterial cells with cell walls
2. Disrupt translation (target dif. in ribosomes)
3. Damage membrane integrity
4. Pathways not used by humans
5. Analogs: incorporated into DNA/RNA of pathogens, distort nucleic acids, prevent further processing
6. blocked by peptide and sugar analogs of attachment of receptor proteins; especially viruses

Question 13

Drugs can selectively target translation without affecting eukaryotes BUT

Answer 13

it can be harmful because mitochondria of animals and humans contain 70S ribosomes

Question 14

examples of drugs inhibiting protein synthesis

Answer 14

tetracycline, monocycine, doxycycline, azithromycin, erythormycin

Question 15

Clinical Considerations in prescribing antimicrobials

Answer 15

• Spectrum of Action
• Safety and Side effects
• Resistance

Question 16

Spectrum of action

Answer 16

number of different pathogens a drug acts against

Question 17

Narrow spectrum is effective against _____ organisms while broad-spectrum is effective against ______ organisms

Answer 17

few; many

Question 18

Side effects are ________ effects

Answer 18

unanticipated

Question 19

Adverse Reactions

Answer 19

negative side effects

Question 20

Allergies are ______ but can be life threatening and include:

Answer 20

rare, anaphylactic shock

Question 21

Toxicity

Answer 21

drugs can be toxic to kidneys, liver, and lungs, and extra caution should be taken when prescribing to pregnant women

Question 22

Clinical considerations including safety and side effects

Answer 22

1. Disrupts normal microbiota
2. Overgrowth of normal flora can cause a secondary infection
3. Mostly a concern in hospitalized patients

Question 23

Some pathogens are naturally resistant while some can acquire resistance in 2 ways

Answer 23

1. New mutations of chromosomal genes

2. Acquisition of R-plasmids via horizontal gene transfer

Question 24

Multiple resistance

Answer 24

pathogen an acquire resistance to more than one drug; called “superbugs”

Question 25

Cross resistance

Answer 25

resistance to one antimicrobial ages may confer resistance to similar drugs

Question 26

Retarding/Decreasing resistance to antimicrobial drugs

Answer 26

maintain high concentration of drug in patient for a sufficient time and use antimicrobial agents in combination

Question 27

Synergism

Answer 27

one drug enhances effect of second drug

Question 28

To decrease resistance to antimicrobial drugs, antimicrobials should

Answer 28

only be used when necessary

Question 29

New variations of drugs are developing to help

Answer 29

decrease resistance

2nd and 3rd generation drugs

Question 30

Quorum sensing and bacteriocins

Answer 30

new antibiotics being developed because of antibiotic resistance

quorum sensing is bacterial communication chemicals