Module 9 12 part 1 Flashcards
Question
Answer
When did the use of antimicrobial agents begin, and what impact did they have on infections?
Antimicrobial agents were first used in the 1930s and 1940s, significantly reducing the morbidity and mortality caused by infections.
How have newer drugs improved our ability to fight infections?
Newer antimicrobial drugs have further enhanced our capacity to combat infection
What are some of the challenges that persist in the field of antimicrobial agents and infectious disease treatment?
Several challenges persist in the field of antimicrobial agents and infectious disease treatment, including microorganisms that do not respond well to available drugs, limited use of effective drugs due to toxicity, and the constant threat of microbial resistance development compromising the effectiveness of current antibiotics.
Q: What are the two principal themes discussed in this context?
A: The two main themes are microbial susceptibility to drugs, particularly resistance, and the clinical use of antimicrobials, which includes drug selection, host factors, drug combinations, and prophylactic use.
Q: What is the difference between the formal definitions of “antibiotic” and “antimicrobial drug”?
A: Strictly speaking, an antibiotic is a compound produced by one microbe to harm other microbes, while an antimicrobial drug is a broader term covering any agent, whether natural or synthetic, capable of killing or suppressing microorganisms.
Q: Are “antibiotic” and “antimicrobial drug” used interchangeably in common practice?
A: Yes, these terms are often used interchangeably in common practice, including in this book.
Q: What distinguishes an antibiotic from an antimicrobial drug under the strict definition?
A: An antibiotic must be produced by a microorganism, while an antimicrobial drug can be natural or synthetic and does not have to be of microbial origin.
Q: Does the formal definition of antibiotic and antimicrobial drug differentiate between compounds made by microbes and those synthesized by chemists?
A: No, the formal definition doesn’t make such a distinction.
Q: Why is there no therapeutic benefit in distinguishing between drugs made by microorganisms and chemists?
A: From a therapeutic standpoint, there’s no advantage in making this distinction.
Q: What is the current practice regarding the use of the terms “antibiotic” and “antimicrobial drug”?
A: In current practice, the terms “antibiotic” and “antimicrobial drug” are used interchangeably.
Q: What is selective toxicity in drug therapy?
A: Selective toxicity is the ability of a drug to harm a specific target, such as a cell or organism, without harming other nearby cells or organisms.
Q: How is selective toxicity applied to antimicrobial drugs, specifically antibiotics?
A: In the context of antimicrobial drugs, selective toxicity means that antibiotics can kill or suppress harmful microbes without causing harm to the host (the patient).
Q: Why is selective toxicity an essential property of antibiotics in treating infections?
A: Selective toxicity is vital because it is what makes antibiotics valuable. Without it, antibiotics would not be therapeutically useful, as they would harm the host as much as the infecting organisms.
Q: How can a drug be toxic to microbes but not harmful to the host (mammals)?
A: Achieving selective toxicity relies on differences in cellular chemistry between microbes and mammals.
