Infection Flashcards
(Amino-glycosides)
Binds irreversibly to bacterial ribosomes to inhibit protein synthesis. Enters bacteria via oxygen-dependant transport system, so inactive against Staphlyococci and anaerobes
✓ Gram negative aerobic bacteria
Gentamicin
(Amino-glycosides) Severe sepsis Pyelonephritis and complicated urinary tract infection Biliary or intra-abdominal sepsis Endocarditis
Amikacin
(Amino-glycosides) Severe sepsis Pyelonephritis and complicated urinary tract infection Biliary or intra-abdominal sepsis Endocarditis
Neomycin
(Topical Amino-glycosides)
Bacterial eye/skin/external ear infection
(Anti-fungal drugs)
Fungal cell membrane contains ergosterol not present in animal cells. Anti-fungals either target or inhibit production of ergosterol.
✖Pregnancy
Nystatin
(Anti-fungal drugs)
Local fungal infections (including oropharynx, vagina, skin)
Invasive or disseminated fungal infections
Clotrimazole
(Anti-fungal drugs)
Local fungal infections (including oropharynx, vagina, skin)
Invasive or disseminated fungal infections
Fluconazole
(Anti-fungal drugs)
Local fungal infections (including oropharynx, vagina, skin)
Invasive or disseminated fungal infections
(Aciclovir)
Enters herpes cells and inhibit herpes-specific DNA polymerase, preventing DNA synthesis and replication.
Treatment of acute or recurrent herpes simplex infection
(Cephalosporins and carbapenems)
Bactericidal effects due to beta-lactam ring. Inhibits enzymes for cross-linkage of peptidoglycan in bacterial cell walls.
✓Gram-negative bacteria
✓ Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Cefalexin
(Cephalosporins)
Urinary + respiratory tract infections
Severe/complicated infections or caused by resistant organisms
Cefotaxime
(Cephalosporins)
Urinary + respiratory tract infections
Severe/complicated infections or caused by resistant organisms
Meropenem
(Carbapenems)
Severe/complicated infections or caused by resistant organisms
Ertapenem
(Carbapenems)
Severe/complicated infections or caused by resistant organisms
(Chloramphenicol)
Binds to bacterial ribosomes inhibiting protein synthesis.
✓ Gram positive and gram negative
✓ Aerobic and aerobic
Bacterial conjunctivitis
Otitis externa
*Limited use in UK due to its high toxicity
(Macrolides)
Inhibit bacterial protein synthesis by binding to 50S subunit of bacteria ribosome.
✓ Gram positive and gram negative (broad spectrum)
Clarithromycin
(Macrolides)
Treatment of respiratory, skin and soft tissue infections as alternative to penicillin
Severe pneumonia
H. pylori in combination with proton pump inhibitor + amoxillin or metronidazole
Erythromycin
(Macrolides)
Treatment of respiratory, skin and soft tissue infections as alternative to penicillin
Severe pneumonia
H. pylori in combination with proton pump inhibitor + amoxillin or metronidazole
Azithromycin
(Macrolides)
Treatment of respiratory, skin and soft tissue infections as alternative to penicillin
Severe pneumonia
H. pylori in combination with proton pump inhibitor + amoxillin or metronidazole
(Metronidazole)
In anerobic bacteria, metronidazoleenters via diffusion and generates nitroso free radical causing widespread DNA damage. Ineffective agains aerobic bacteria
✓ Anaerobic bacteria and protozoa
Antibiotic associated colitis
Oral infections
Surgical and gynaecological infections
Protozoal infections
(Nitrofurantoin)
Nitrofurantoin reduced by bacteria forming nitrofuran reductase. This active metabolite damages DNA and causes cell death.
✓Main organisms causing uncomplicated UTIs (e.g. E.coli, Staph saprophyticus)
Acute uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection
Prophylaxis of UTI patients with recurrent infections
(Penicillins)
Penicillin inhibit enzymes involved in peptidoglycan cross-linking in bacterial cell walls. Leads to osmotic dysregulation and cell lysis.
✓Narrow antibiotic spectrum against gram positive and gram negative organisms
Benzlypenicillin
(Penicillins) Streptococcal infection (e.g. tonsillitis, pneumonia, endocarditis) Meningococcal infection (Meningitis, septicaemia) Clostridial infection (e.g. gas gangrene)
Phenoxymethylpenicillin
(Penicillins) Streptococcal infection (e.g. tonsillitis, pneumonia, endocarditis) Meningococcal infection (Meningitis, septicaemia) Clostridial infection (e.g. gas gangrene)
(Penicillin, antipseudomonal)
Penicillin inhibit enzymes involved in peptidoglycan cross-linking in bacterial cell walls. Leads to osmotic dysregulation and cell lysis.
✓Broad spectrum activity against gram positive and gram negative bacteria
Piperacillin with tazobactam (Tazocin)
(Penicillin, antipseudomonal)
Reserved for severe infections involving broad spectrum of potential pathogens or where resistance is likely
Lower respiratory tract infections
Urinary tract infections
Intra-abdominal sepsis
Skin and soft tissue infections
(Penicillin, broad spectrum)
Penicillin inhibit enzymes involved in peptidoglycan cross-linking in bacterial cell walls. Leads to osmotic dysregulation and cell lysis.
✓Broad spectrum activity against gram positive and gram negative bacteria
Amoxicillin
(Penicillin, broad spectrum)
Uncomplicated community acquired pneumonia, otitis media, sinusitis and UTIs
H. pylori infection (part of triple therapy)
Co-amoxiclav
(Penicillin, broad spectrum)
Uncomplicated community acquired pneumonia, otitis media, sinusitis and UTIs
H. pylori infection (part of triple therapy)
Severe, resistant hospital acquired infections
(Quinine)
Reduces excitability of motor end plate in response to acetylcholine stimulation. In malaria, it causes rapid killing of Plasmodium falciparum parasites.
Quinine sulfate
(Quinine)
Treatment and prevention of leg cramps
Treatment of plasmodium falciparum malaria
(Quinolones)
Inhibits bacterial DNA synthesis.
✓Broad spectrum activity especially towards gram negative bacteria
Ciprofloxacin
(Quinolones)
Urinary tract infection
Severe gastroneteritis
Lower respiratory tract infection
Moxifloxacin
(Quinolones)
Urinary tract infection
Severe gastroneteritis
Lower respiratory tract infection
Levofloxacin
(Quinolones)
Urinary tract infection
Severe gastroneteritis
Lower respiratory tract infection
(Tetracyclines)
Binds to ribosomal 30S subunit to inhibit bacteria protein synthesis.
✓Broad spectrum activity against gram positive and negatives. However, emerging bacterial resistance
Doxycycline
(Tetracyclines)
Acne vulgaris
Lower respiratory tract infections (incl. infective exacerbation of COPD, typical/atypical pneumonia)
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Lymecycline
(Tetracyclines)
Acne vulgaris
Lower respiratory tract infections (incl. infective exacerbation of COPD, typical/atypical pneumonia)
Pelvic inflammatory disease
(Trimethoprim)
Bacteria cannot use external sources of folate otherwise needed for DNA synthesis. Inhibits bacterial folate synthesis.
✖1st trimester of pregnancy
Acute lower urinary tract infection
Prophylaxis of recurrent UTI
Co-trimoxazole
(Trimethoprim)
Acute lower urinary tract infection
Prophylaxis of recurrent UTI
(Vancomycin)
Inhibits growth and cross-linking of peptidoglycan chains that in turn inhibit synthesis of cell wall in gram positive bacteria. Ineffective against gram negative bacteria.
✓Narrow spectrum of activity amongst gram-positive bacteria
Gram-positive infections (e.g. Endocarditis)
Antibiotic associated colitis
