Midterm #2 Material Flashcards
Define prophylaxis
Use of a drug to prevent potential for infection of a person at risk
Define chemotherapeutic drug
Any chemical used in the treatment, relief, or prophylaxis of a disease
Define Antimicrobial
All inclusive terms for an antimicrobial drug
- regardless of its origin
Define Antibiotics
Substance that can inhibit or destroy other microorganisms
What is the difference between antimicrobial and antibiotics?
a
What are narrow spectrum antimicrobials?
Antimicrobials effective against a limited array of microbial types
What are broad spectrum antimicrobials?
Antimicrobials effective against a wide variety of microbial types
What is monotherapy?
Treatment using a single drug
What is combined therapy?
Treatment using more than one drug
drugs could be contained in the same pill
Define bacteriostatic agents
Agents that inhibit or prevent the growth of bacteria
Define disinfection
Physical or chemical process that destroys vegetative pathogens
- but NOT bacterial endospores
Define antiseptic
Chemical applied to living tissues to render them free of pathogens
Define sanitization
Forceful cleaning that removes contaminants and makes objects hygienic and safe for use
How do autoclaves sterilize objects?
Utilize steam under pressure to sterilize heat-resistant materials
How does pasteurization disinfect?
Subjects liquids to temperatures below 100 degrees C and is used to lower the microbial load in liquids
What does it mean to say that an antimicrobial has a selective toxicity?
Means that it is effective against the microbes without harming the host
What does it mean to say that an antimicrobial has selective toxicity?
Means that it is effective against the microbes without harming the host
True or False:
It is more beneficial to have an antimicrobial drug that is microbistatic instead of microbicidal
False!
- it is better to have microbicidal
- “static” means that you prevent the growth, not kill the organism
What does actinomycin interfere with?
Interferes with the synthesis of nucleic acid AND proteins
- in bacterial AND human cells
- NOT selectively toxic
Why do we hold off on giving honey to kids under 1 year old?
Interferes with normal development
True or False:
Selective toxicity is a characteristic of antimicrobials
True
How do antibiotics work against microbials (2)?
- By inhibiting one or more steps in the synthesis of essential cellular components
- Increasing permeability of microbial cell membrane
What are 5 examples of major actions that antibiotics can work on against microbials?
- Cell wall inhibitors
- Cell membrane
- DNA/RNA
- Protein synthesis inhibitors acting on ribosomes
- Metabolic pathways and products
True or False:
Drugs can target the ribosomes of the bacterial proteins
True
What do cell wall inhibitors prevent?
Cross-linkage between the two key polymer carbohydrates in the peptidoglycan
What gives bacteria their cell shape and integrity?
Peptidoglycan
What examples of beta-lactam antibiotics (2)?
- Penicillin (ex: Ampicillin and Amoxicillin)
2. Cephalosporins (methicillins, vancomycins, and isoniazid)
What is a characteristic of beta-lactam antibiotics?
Class of broad spectrum antibiotics
- contains a beta-lactam ring in their molecular structure
What drug is the last resort for treating gram-positive bacterial infections not responsive to other drugs?
Vancomycin
What is the first line drug for TB?
Isoniazid (INH)
How do antibiotics disrupt the cell membrane/permeability and/or function?
The drugs bind to the microbial cell membrane leading to alteration in membrane permeability and cell death
What is amphotericin B used for?
Life threatening fungal infections
What the group of polymyxin antibiotics used for?
Primarily for gram-negative bacterial infections
What is the common drug in over the counter antibiotics that disrupt the cell membrane in gram-negative bacteria?
Polymyxin B
What is an example of a last resort drug that is used to disrupt the cell membrane of gram-negative bacteria?
Polymyxin E
True or False:
Polymyxin B is more potent than Polymyxin E
False!
- E is more potent than B
What do antibiotics do to inhibit nucleic acid synthesis?
Block synthesis of microbial DNA or RNA
What does Fluoroquinolone (Ciprofloxacin) do?
Inhibits two enzymes required for DNA replication
- inhibits nucleic acid synthesis
(1 of the major actions of antibiotics)
- UTIs and healthcare associated pneumonia
What does rifampin (rifampicin) do?
Inhibits RNA polymerase (enzyme required to produce all types of RNA in bacteria)
- used as part of COMBINED therapy to prevent/treat TB and meningitis
What are the two examples of drugs (antibiotics) that inhibit nucleic acid synthesis?
- Fluoroquinolone (Ciprofloxacin)
2. Rifampin (Rifampicin)
How do antibiotics block protein synthesis on microbial agents?
Target ribosomes at various stages of protein synthesis
Aminoglycosides effectively block the protein synthesis of what kinds of bacteria?
Most gram-negative aerobic and facultative anaerobic rod-shaped bacteria
What is erythromycin used for specifically in blocking protein synthesis?
For skin and upper respiratory infections
Linezolid effectively blocks the protein synthesis of what kinds of bacteria?
Most gram-positive bacteria
- including MRSA and VRE
How do antibiotics inhibit metabolic pathways?
They work by competitive inhibition
Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (SMZ-TMP) is used to treat? And to inhibit the metabolic pathway of what?
Used to treat pneumonia
- caused by the protozoan PNEUMOCYSTIS in HIV/AIDS patients
What is the role of sulfonamide and trimethoprim in the inhibition of metabolic pathways?
Interferes with the metabolic pathways for production of essential nutrients (such as folic acid)
What is the important role that folic acid plays in protein synthesis?
It’s a coenzyme for the DNA and RNA synthesis
True or False:
Trimethoprim is bacteriostatic when used alone but bactericidal when used WITH sulfonamide
TRUE!
What are the major mechanisms of antivirals?
- Protecting host cells from being infected (interferons)
- Enhancing the host defense against viruses (transfer of antibodies from immune person to the susceptible person)
- Interfering with specific steps of the viral replication cycle
True or False:
Even though interferons help protect the host cell from being infected, they do have some toxic effects
True
What three drugs inhibit the release or virus entry?
- Fuzeon
- Amantidine
- Tamiflu
What are three drugs that inhibit the synthesis of nucleic acid of viruses?
- Acyclovir (Herpes)
- Nucleotide analog reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors (HIV)
- NON-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors
Describe a retrovirus
2 strands of RNA
- use reverse transcription to form DNA (uses the enzyme reverse transcriptASE)
What is an example of a drug that inhibits the assembly of viruses?
Protease inhibitors (HIV)
What does combined therapy do for persons infected with HIV (3)?
- Reduces viral load
- Restores immune function
- Reduces the emergence of drug-resistant HIV
- does NOT cure!
What are antibiotics?
Natural substances produced by one microbe (bacteria, fungi, protozoa) that inhibits the growth or kills other microorganisms
True or False:
Antibiotics work well on viruses
FALSE
- antibiotics do NOT work on viruses
What are antimicrobials?
Chemotherapeutic agents against viruses (antivirals) and other types of microbes (antibiotics)
True or False:
Antibiotics can be useful against a narrow or broad group of microbes
True
What does the suffix “-static” mean?
Inhibit growth
What does the suffix “-cidal” mean?
Kill
What is the action of penicillin?
Inhibits the synthesis of peptidoglycan (found only in bacteria but not human cells)
- has desirable selective toxicity
What is the action of actinomycin?
Does NOT have selective toxicity
- inhibits the synthesis of nucleic acids/protein synthesis on BOTH bacteria and human
If you are exposed to HIV (needle stick injury) what is the post-exposure prophylaxis?
Tenofovir (300 mg QD)
+ Lamivudine (150 mg BID)
+ Kaletra (2 tabs (BID)
What is asepsis or septic technique?
Practice of preventing or minimizing the risk of introducing microbes into key sterile equipment parts
What is an aseptic field?
An area created to control the environment around the procedure to protect the key parts
What is the ANTT approach (6 steps)?
- Risk assessment
- Mange the environment
- Decontaminate and protect
- Use aseptic fields
- Use non-touch technique
- Prevent cross infection
Define sterile
State of being free (or absence) of all viable microorganisms
- including bacterial spores
Define sterility testing
IN VITRO test to check for any contamination to ensure any injectable drugs must be sterile
Define sterilization
Destruction of ALL VIABLE life form
- including bacteria spores
- by physical or chemical means
Define disinfection
Destruction of microorganisms (esp. pathogens) by physical or chemical means
- NOT effective against bacterial spores
Define antisepsis
Similar to disinfection but applied to LIVING TISSUES
- reduce/remove resident skin microbiota before surgery and injection
Define decontamination
Applies to BOTH living and non-living objects
What are the three major modes of action to control microbiota?
- Protein denaturation
- Permanent damage to microbial nucleic acids
- including their genome - Destruction of structural integrity of microbes
- damaging bacterial cell wall and/or cell membrane
What are critical items?
Items that enter sterile tissue or vascular space
What is applied to semi-critical items (does not penetrate the bloodstream)?
Disinfection
What can be used to disinfect an entire building?
Chlorine dioxide
What does a TYPICAL ANTT approach to prevent cross infection include?
- Environmental risk assessment
- Decontamination and protection
- Aseptic field selection and management
- Non-touch technique
What are the factors influencing the efficacy of disinfecting and sterilizing agents (death rate) (6)?
- Number of microbes present
- Nature of microbes present (ex: spores)
- Temp and pH
- Concentration (dosage or intensity) of agent used
- Modes of action of the agent (microbistatic or microbicidal)
- Presence of contaminants (blood/mucus)
What are two methods of sterilization using heat?
- Dry heat
2. Moist heat
How hot and how long do you have use dry heat for to have sterilization?
160 degrees
2 hours
How hot and for how long do you have to use moist heat for to have sterilization?
121 degrees
15 min
- 15 psi/pound per squared inch in an autoclave
True or False:
If you increase the heat during sterilization, you can reduce the time it takes
True
What is the method called if you use high energy (short wavelength) radiation to sterilize?
Ionizing radiation
What are the benefits of using ionizing radiation (3)?
- strong penetrating power
- causes permanent damage to nucleic acid
- can be used on heat-sensitive items
What is the most commonly used sterilization method in healthcare settings?
Ethylene Dioxide (gas)
What does ethylene dioxide do and what is it used for?
Blocks DNA replication and enzymatic functions
- used for sterilizing heat-sensitive, delicate instruments
What are the characteristics of using ultraviolet light to disinfect?
- Non-ionizing radiation
- Exposure to UV leads to the formation of thymine dimers
True or False:
Ultraviolet light has less energy and less penetrating power than ionizing radiation
True
What does ultraviolet light do?
Blocks normal DNA replication
True or False:
Bacteria cannot repair the DNA damage cause by UV light
FALSE!
- SOME microbes CAN repair the DNA damage caused by UV light
What is used for air and water disinfection?
UV light
What is the agent that is used for antisepsis and disinfection?
Iodine
What are the benefits of using iodine?
- strong oxidizing agent
- good penetrating power
- rapid action
What is the preferred method of cleaning your hands when they are visibly soiled?
Soap and water
What does soap contain that reduces the surface tension between a liquid and a solid?
Surfactant molecules
What antimicrobial agent might be contained in soap?
Chlorhexidine
What are the benefits of using an alcohol based hand rub?
- takes less time than hand washing
- more effective than hand washing when hands are NOT visibly soiled
- less drying
True or False:
It is preferred to use soap and water when dealing with C. diff
True
True or False:
Studies have not shown a decrease of MRSA and VRE associated with the use of alcohol-based hand rub
FALSE
- studies did show a decrease of MRSA and VRE associated with the use of ABHR
Rank the following 8 agents in terms of their resistance ( 1 = most resistant; 8 = least resistant):
Bacterial spores, enveloped viruses, fungi, gram + bacteria, gram - bacteria, non-enveloped viruses, prions, protozoa cysts
- Prions
- Endospores of bacteria
- Protozoa cysts
- Gram - bacteria
- Fungi
- Non-enveloped viruses
- Gram + bacteria
- Enveloped viruses
What does the binomial nomenclauture of bacteria consist of?
- Genus
2. Species
What 4 things can bacteria be classified and grouped into?
- Family
- Genus
- Species
- Subspecies
True or False:
There could be a single or many species within a genus
True
If bacteria are members of the same species, what are the three ways that they can be classified in terms of strains?
- Biotypes
- Phage types
- Serotypes
What is an example of a biotype of bacteria?
Resistant to antibiotics
- such as MRSA
How are different strains of serotypes differentiated by?
Based on the use of antibodies or serum
How can different strains of bacteria of the same species differ
- Communicability
- Reservoirs and modes/routes of transmission
- Vaccine (preventability)
- Diagnostics
- Susceptibility to antimicrobials
- Virulence
- S/S of diseases
What are the names of the different groups of meningococcal?
A B C Y W-135
What happens if you are vaccinated with meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine, Groups A, C, Y and W-135?
You are protected against all of them
- EXCEPT group B!
What are the S/S associated with different escherichia coli serotypes?
- urinary frequency
- dysuria
- hematuria
- pyuria
Why is the microscope an essential tool?
To examine and study microbes and cellular structures
What are the two major types of microscopes?
- Light
2. Electron
A microscope will have a better resolving power, if ________
It has a smaller value of resolution
- shortest distance between 2 points on a specimen
What kind of microscope has a high magnification (light or electron)?
Electron = 1,000,000 x or more Light = only 2,000 x
What is the maximum resolution of a light microscope?
200 nm
What is the maximum resolution of an electron microscope?
0.5 nm