Infection (Chapter 5) + Ambrose Paper Flashcards
with what kind of drugs would we combat auto-immune disease ?
anti-inflammatory drugs
with what kind of drugs would we combat not auto-immune disease ?
pro-inflammatory drugs
what is a pathogen ?
a micro organism that is invasive and can cause sickness and death
What is the Gram stain ?
Used to determine whether bacteria is Gram + or -
Since Gram + does not have a membrane, it picks up the stain which usually binds to the peptidoglycan layer
Gram + : purple
why does it matter whether a bacteria population is gram + or - ?
because certain drugs will be ineffective for certain sorts of bacteria
for example, drugs that work by damaging the outer membrane would not work on gram + bacteria since they dont have one ?
which type of bacteria has an outer membrane ?
gram -
what are the two types of antibiotics ?
bacteriocidal and bacteriostatic
what is a bacteriocidal drug ? pro and con
Kills bacteria
pro: punches holes in membranes and compromises metabolic pathways
con: bacteria contain toxins and this could cause toxic shock syndrome
what is a bacteriostatic drug ? pro and con
slows down bacteria, for example by inhibiting DNA synthesis
more safe alternative, this allows the immune system to catch up
what is the difference in prescribing antibiotics and antifungals ?
bacteria are prokaryotic, very different from mammals, therefore medication against them usually does not affect human tissue. this is harder in the case of antifungals
what is the main reason we are in an anti-biotic resistant age ?
agriculture
overuse of antibiotics
what are narrow spectrum antibiotics? example
effective only against a few types of bacteria, like one of the gram categories.
ex penicillin G
what are broad spectrum antibiotics ? example
against a wide array of bacteria, in both of the gram categories
ex doxycycline
how do bacteria avoid the effects of a drug ?
they change by mutating
what are the four reasons a microbe becomes resistant ?
1) it makes an enzyme that destroys the drug
2) it changes the target site of the drug so the drug can’t work
3) it alters the point of entry of the drug
4) it pumps the drug out so it can’t be effective
what are the considerations in prescribing an antibiotic ?
first, use clinical information . for example, knowing that ear infections are often bacterial…
if it seems risky, treat with broad spectrum
then, after lab results come in, can prescribe more precise antibiotic
what are the most common adverse effects from antibiotics ?
GI disruption, diarrhea, caused by killing of normal gut flora
what is the most common upper respiratory tract infection?
pharyngitis
associated with the common cold virus
what is pharyngitis treatable with ?
usually associated with the common cold virus therefore antibiotics are inappropriate
are otitis and sinusitis viral or bacterial ?
bacterial
what is bronchitis ?
lower respiratory tract infection
usually viral but can be bacterial
what is pneumonia ?
lower respiratory tract infection
can be viral, fungal, bacterial
how does the curve look of sports and risk of upper respiratory tract diseases?
a J
as intensity of exercise increases, immune system receives a boost, makes it easier to fight infections
however, if intensity too high then immune system suppressed
higher risk of URTI
why is the immune system suppressed if very high exercise intensity ?
reduced flow of lymphatic fluid, and actions of NE and cortisol
what is a super infection ?
when bacteria resistant to all antibiotics
what are the three antibiotics that are cell wall inhibitors ? what structure do they have in common
penicillin, cephalosporins, carbapenems
they all have a beta-lactam ring structure
what are the 4 antibiotics that are protein inhibitors ?
tetracyclines, macrolides, aminoglycosides, fluoquinolones
what is the therapeutic index of penicillin?
pretty high, although 10 % of people are allergic
what is the mechanism of action of penicillin?
bactericidal, attack the cell wall (cell wall inhibitor)
what is penicillin limited by ? how do drugs answer this problem ?
limited by digestion in stomach and by penicillinase
new drug version is resistant to penicillinase
which penicillin is sensitive to penicillinase ? which isn’t ?
Penicillin G is sensitive to it
Nafcillin is not
What is special about amoxicillin ?
it is more acid stable than the others, so it survives the stomach acid better
Which types of bacteria are treated by penicillin ?
more effective for gram positive bacteria
how are cephalosporins usually taken ?
intravenous or intramuscular injections
not effective taken orally
what in the generic name will indicate that a medication is a cephalosporin ?
it will start with cef or ceph
what are carbapenems usually used for ?
gram negative bacteria that are resistant to other antibiotics
how do carbapenems work ?
they avoid bacterial lactamase enzymes which destroy other similar antibiotics
what is the next antibiotic people take after penicillin if they’re allergic ?
tetracylines
are tetracyclines bactericidal or bacteriostatic ?
inhibit protein synthesis, limiting growh, so bacteriostatic