Other Antibacterials Questions Flashcards
Name the glycopeptides and short-acting lipoglycopeptides.
- vancomycin
- telavancin
- teicoplanin (not available in the US)
What is the general spectrum of activity of vancomycin?
Has activity against most things gram positive that haven’t learned to become resistant to it
- many enterococci have figured this out (especially E. faecium); VRE- vancomycin resistant enterococci
- few staphylococci have learned vancomycin resistance from the enterococci
What is telavancin?
Lipoglycopeptide (structure modified from vancomycin)
-improved activity against MRSA that is less susceptible to vancomycin
What is the MOA of vancomycin?
Glycopeptides bind to terminal D-ala-D-ala chains on peptidoglycan in the cell wall (preventing further elongation of peptidoglycan chains)
What is the MOA of telavancin?
Vancomycin’s MOA plus:
Interferes with the cell membrane also (disrupting membrane function)
What organisms do (lipo)glycopeptides have GOOD activity against?
- MSSA
- MRSA
- streptococci
- Clostridium difficile
What organisms do (lipo)glycopeptides have MODERATE activity against?
-enterococci
What organisms do (lipo)glycopeptides have POOR activity against?
-anything gram negative
List the categories of adverse effects of vancomycin.
- infusion-related reactions
- ototoxicity
- renal
What is red man syndrome?
Histamine-mediated reaction classically associated with vancomycin (not a true allergy)
Patient may feel:
- warm
- flushed
- may develop hypotension
How can the risk of red man syndrome be decreased?
- can be prevented by slowing the infusion rate
- antihistamines can ameliorate the reaction
Can telavancin cause red man syndrome?
Yes
-its core structure is essentially vancomycin
Describe vancomycin’s ototoxicity.
Has historically been considered ototoxic
-evidence linking it with this toxicity is unclear
Describe vancomycin’s nephrotoxicity.
- classically assigned to vancomycin
- historical evidence linking this with vancomycin is poor
- may be nephrotoxic in higher doses (including higher doses commonly used to treat MRSA in the 21st century)
What is Mississippi Mud?
Nickname for vancomycin
- early formulation was brown
- current formulation is clear (lacks those potentially toxic excipients)
Does telavancin have renal toxicity issues also?
Yes
What are specific adverse effects associated with telavancin?
- taste disturbances
- foamy urine
Should telavancin be used in pregnant women?
No, unless absolutely necessary
- is category C
- developmental issues seen in animal studies
How is vancomycin pharmacokinetically monitored?
- trough concentrations used to monitor elimination (not being eliminated too quickly or slowly)
- different indications have different preferred trough ranges
- higher troughs may be associated with nephrotoxicity
What are vancomycin peak levels used for?
For calculating patient specific PK parameters
- do not seem to predict efficacy or safety
- should NOT be drawn for most patients
What is oral vancomycin used for?
Treatment of C. difficile-associated disease
- absorbed very poorly
- achieves sky-high gut concentrations (lowest dose is best for the majority of patients)
Can IV vancomycin be used for C. difficile?
No
-does not reach high enough intracolonic concentrations to kill C. difficile
What is the proper reaction to a too high vancomycin trough?
Ask if it was drawn correctly
-if so, increase the dosing interval
Is vancomycin the preferred drug against MSSA?
No
- does not kill MSSA as quickly as beta-lactams
- use cefazolin or nafcillin
What is MIC creep in regards to staphylococci and vancomycin?
Susceptible range is <= 2mg/L
-patients receiving vancomycin for serious staphylococcal infections with an MIC = 2 mg/L have worse outcomes than those with lower MICs
Which (lipo)glycopeptide is more rapidly bactericidal?
Telavancin
- current clinical evidence that shows a benefit for this is lacking
- may be useful for patients not responding to other therapies for MRSA (may be an advantage in the treatment of some infections)
What is vancomycin good for?
- drug of choice for MRSA infections / empiric use when MRSA is a concern (ex: nosocomial pneumonia)
- other gram positive infections when patient has severe beta-lactam allergy
What is telavancin indicated for?
- skin and skin structure infections
- hospital-acquired pneumonia
It’s role is still being defined
Name the long-acting glycopeptides.
- dalbavancin
- oritavancin
What is unique about the long-acting glycopeptides?
- pharmacologically, have the base structure of a glycopeptide
- designed with PK characteristics that slow their elimination
What is the half life of long-acting glycopeptides?
Over a week
-can be dosed IV once for the equivalent of 2 weeks of therapy
What organisms do long-acting glycopeptides have GOOD activity against?
- MSSA
- MRSA
- streptococci
- enterococci (oritavancin)
What organisms do long-acting glycopeptides have MODERATE activity against?
-enterococci (dalbavancin)
What organisms do long-acting glycopeptides have POOR activity against?
-anything gram negative
What are the most common adverse effects of long-acting glycopeptides?
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- rash
What are specific adverse effects of oritavancin?
Infusion related reactions if infused quickly
-given over 3 hours
Inhibits warfarin metabolism
-may increase risk of bleeding when given with it
What is something that can be overlooked with long-acting glycopeptides?
Prolonged elimination leads to easy outpatient options and compliance
- still need to be monitored for treatment success and adverse effects
- don’t “set it and forget it”
Describe oritavancin’s interaction with anticoagulants.
Interferes with assays for:
- prothrombin time (PT) for 24 hours: warfarin
- activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) for 48 hours: heparin
Do not use these drugs in combination with oritavancin during these time periods
-monitoring will be unreliable
How is dalbavancin dosed?
1000mg on day 1, then 500mg a week later
Or
1500mg once
The two dose regimen was studied first
What are long-acting glycopeptides good for?
Skin and skin structure infections
-either known or highly suspected to be caused by gram positive organisms
The paradigm for which patients are best for these drugs is still being defined
Name the fluoroquinolones (FQ).
- ciprofloxacin
- levofloxacin
- moxifloxacin
- gemifloxacin
Why are the FQ near ideal antibiotics?
Broad spectrum:
- gram positive
- gram negative
- atypical organisms
Excellent oral bioavailability
Distribute widely into tissues
How has resistance affected FQ?
In some geographical regions and patient populations, lost much activity against enteric gram negatives:
- E. coli
- Klebsiella
No longer recommended 1st line in US for uncomplicated UTIs
How are the newer FQ different in spectrum of activity?
- gain increasing gram positive activity (mostly pneumococcal)
- lose some gram negative activity (mostly Pseudomonas)
What is the MOA of FQ?
Inhibit DNA topoisomerases (which are enzymes that are involved in the winding and unwinding of DNA)
-can lead to breaks in the DNA and death of the cell
What organisms do ciprofloxacin have GOOD activity against?
H. influenzae
Enteric GNRs (ex:)
- E. coli
- Proteus
- Klebsiella
What organisms do ciprofloxacin have MODERATE activity against?
Pseudomonas
Atypicals:
- Mycoplasma
- Chlamydia
- Legionella
What organisms do ciprofloxacin have POOR activity against?
- staphylococci
- S. pneumoniae
- anaerobes
- enterococci
What organisms do levo/moxi/gemifloxacin have GOOD activity against?
- enteric gram negatives
- S. pneumoniae
- atypicals
- H. influenzae
What organisms do levo/moxi/gemifloxacin have MODERATE activity against?
- MSSA
- Pseudomonas (levofloxacin)
What organisms do levo/moxi/gemifloxacin have POOR activity against?
- anaerobes (moxifloxacin has moderate activity)
- enterococci
List the categories of adverse effects of FQ
- nervous system
- cardiovascular
- musculoskeletal
- dermatologic
- developmental
Describe the nervous system adverse effects of FQ.
Central nervous system effects (elderly especially susceptible):
- dizziness
- confusion
- hallucinations
Younger patients may develop insomnia
Peripheral neuropathy
Describe the cardiovascular adverse effects of FQ.
Prolongation of the QT interval
Arrhythmias usually only occur patient has other risk factors:
- underlying arrhythmia
- concomitant pro-arrhythmic drug
- excessive dose
Describe the musculoskeletal adverse effects of FQ.
- arthralgias (uncommon)
- achilles tendon rupture (very rare)
- exacerbations of myasthenia gravis may occur (less common)
In what patients taking FQ is tendon rupture more common?
- elderly
- patients with renal dysfunction
- those taking corticosteroids
Why should complaints of tendon pain be taken seriously in patients talking FQ?
Tendonitis usually precedes rupture
Describe the dermatologic adverse effects of FQ.
Photosensitivity often seen
-avoid sun or use sunscreen
Describe the developmental adverse effects of FQ.
Toxicities seen in juvenile beagle dogs
Contraindicated in pregnant women
Relatively contraindicated in children
-experience with use in children suggests they may be used
How active are FQ against Pseudomonas?
- ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin are the only drugs that are well-absorbed and active against Pseudomonas
- MICs are typically higher than with other susceptible organisms
What is the antipseudomonal dose for ciprofloxacin?
- 400mg IV q8h
- 750mg PO q12h
What is the antipseudomonal dose for levofloxacin?
-750 mg IV/PO daily
What is the bioavailabililty of FQ?
80-100%
IV dose = PO dose
-except ciprofloxacin: PO = ~1.25x IV dose
Which organism always requires susceptibility testing when using appropriate FQ?
Pseudomonas
-resistance common for this organism
What should be avoided when taking FQ?
FQ chelate cations (oral bioavailabililty significantly decreased)
- calcium
- iron
- antacids (calcium, magnesium, aluminum)
- milk
- multivitamins
Administration with tube feedings also problematic
-only oral formulations; IV forms avoid it
How should FQ-cation interaction be handled?
- separate by at least 2 hours
- have patients take a week off of the supplements if possible
How are most FQ eliminated?
Cleared renally
-require dose reduction in renal dysfunction
How is moxifloxacin eliminated?
Not excreted into the urine
-not approved for treatment of UTIs
How is gemifloxacin eliminated?
Dual elimination
- DOES require dose adjustment in renal failure
- utility in treating UTIs not established (best to avoid for UTIs until there is supporting evidence)
What boxed warning do all FQ have in their package insert mandated by the FDA?
Possibility of tendon rupture
What additional warning in 2016 did the FDA require for all systemic FQ?
Risks outweigh benefits for most cases of (unless other options not available due to possibility of rare but serious adverse effects):
- sinusitis
- bronchitis
- uncomplicated UTIs
What is ciprofloxacin indicated for?
CAP, sinusitis, AECB: - UTI: + Intra-abdominal infection: + Systemic Gram- infections: + Skin/soft tissue infection: - Pseudomonas (+/- beta lactam): + Treatment/prophylaxis in bioterrorism scenario (active vs anthrax, plague, tularemia): +
\+ = approved/studied/makes sense for this indication ? = should work/no clinical data - = suboptimal
What is levofloxacin indicated for?
CAP, sinusitis, AECB: + UTI: + Intra-abdominal infection: + Systemic Gram- infections: + Skin/soft tissue infection: + Pseudomonas (+/- beta lactam): + Treatment/prophylaxis in bioterrorism scenario (active vs anthrax, plague, tularemia): +
What is moxifloxacin indicated for?
CAP, sinusitis, AECB: + UTI: - Intra-abdominal infection: + Systemic Gram- infections: + Skin/soft tissue infection: + Pseudomonas (+/- beta lactam): - Treatment/prophylaxis in bioterrorism scenario (active vs anthrax, plague, tularemia): ?
What is gemifloxacin indicated for?
CAP, sinusitis, AECB: + UTI: ? Intra-abdominal infection: ? Systemic Gram- infections: ? Skin/soft tissue infection: + Pseudomonas (+/- beta lactam): - Treatment/prophylaxis in bioterrorism scenario (active vs anthrax, plague, tularemia): ?
Name the aminoglycosides (AMG).
- Gentamicin
- Tobramycin
- Amikacin
- streptomycin
- spectinomycin
What are advantages of AMG?
- retain good activity against many problem pathogens (Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter) that have developed to more benign drug classes
- excellent at synergizing with the beta-lactams and glycopeptides to improve the efficiency of bacterial killing
What are disadvantages of AMG?
- narrow therapeutic window
- improper dosing has risk of inflicting significant toxicities
- nephrotoxicity
- ototoxicity
Which AMG are most commonly used?
- gentamicin
- tobramycin
When is amikacin used?
Reserved for pathogens resistant to the first two
When is streptomycin used?
Limited uses
- Enterococcus
- tuberculosis
- plague
What is the MOA for AMG?
Bind to the bacterial ribosome (30S subunit)
- causes misreading of the genetic code
- leads to incorrect protein formation and interruption of protein synthesis
What organisms do AMG have GOOD activity against?
Gram negatives
- E. coli
- Klebsiella
- Pseudomonas
- Acinetobacter
- most others
What organisms do AMG have MODERATE activity against?
In combination with a beta-lactam or glycopeptide:
- staphylococci (including MRSA)
- viridans streptococci
- enterococci (gentamicin and streptomycin are best)
What organisms do AMG have POOR activity against?
- atypicals
- anaerobes
- gram positive organisms (as monotherapy)
What AMG are best for enterococci?
- gentamicin
- streptomycin
List the categories of adverse effects of AMG.
- nephrotoxicity
- ototoxicity
- neurologic
Describe AMG nephrotoxicity.
Oliguric acute renal failure
- preceded by a rising serum creatinine
- dose related adverse effect
How can the risk of AMG nephrotoxicity be reduced?
Correct dosing (including the use of extended-interval dosing)
Avoidance of coadministration of other nephrotoxins:
- cyclosporine
- cisplatin
- foscarnet, etc.
Describe AMG ototoxicity?
Dose related adverse effect:
- cochlear toxicity (hearing loss)
- vestibular toxicity (balance problems)
- not reversible and can significantly quality of life
When is baseline and follow up audiology necessary with AMG?
For patients anticipated to receive long term therapy
-greater than 2 weeks
Describe AMG neurologic toxicity.
Neuromuscular blockade
-especially when high doses are given to patients who are receiving therapeutic paralysis
What is the benefit of once daily/extended-interval AMG dosing?
Leverages the concentration-dependent killing of AMG to create a dosing regimen that is:
- equally effective
- more convenient
- possibly safer
In which patient populations has once daily dosing had less study?
- pregnant
- critically ill
- significant renal dysfunction
- morbidly obese
Use QD dosing cautiously if at all in these populations
What is the pregnancy category of AMG?
Category D
-avoid if possible
How should AMG serum levels be drawn for traditional dosing?
Peak level:
-30 minutes after the end of infusion
Trough level:
-within 30 minutes of the next dose
How is AMG QD dosing monitored?
Published nomograms
-number of potential monitoring points
Describe AMG distribution into tissues.
Relatively poor distribution into many tissues (including lungs and CNS)
-makes them less than optimal as monotherapy for many severe infections
Based on what weight should AMG be dosed?
On patient’s ideal or adjusted body weight
-NOT on total body weight (serious overdose can occur)
Which AMG are best for Pseudomonas?
Amikacin
>
Tobramycin
>
Gentamicin
Which AMG are best for Klebsiella?
Amikacin
=
Gentamicin
>
Tobramycin
Which AMG is used for resistant tuberculosis?
Streptomycin
- some older references incorrectly list it as 1st line for TB
- it was the first drug available but now safer and more effective 1st line drugs exist
What are AMG good for?
Treatment of serious gram negative infections:
- febrile neutropenia
- sepsis
- exacerbations of cystic fibrosis
- ventilator associated pneumonia
In combination with a beta-lactam or glycopeptide for serious gram positive infections (primarily gentamicin):
- endocarditis
- osteomyelitis
- sepsis
In combination with other antimycobacterials (streptomycin and amikacin):
-drug resistant infections with Mycobacterium tuberculosis or other mycobacteria
Why is correct AMG dosing so important?
Because most toxicity is dose-related
- adjust for renal dysfunction
- use ideal or adjusted body weight
PK concentrations are useful if drawn correctly
- monitoring
- dosing
Name the tetracyclines and glycylcyclins.
- doxycycline
- minocycline
- tetracycline
- tigecycline (glycylcycline)
What are the tetracyclines?
- once considered broad spectrum agents
- useful (but not highly studied) alternatives for common respiratory tract infections
- drugs of choice for a variety of uncommon infections
Which tetracycline is preferred in most situations?
Doxycycline
What is tigecycline?
Glycylcycline
- evades most tetracycline resistance mechanisms
- has a broad spectrum of activity
What is the MOA of (tetra)glycylcyclines?
Bind to the bacterial ribosome at the 30S subunit
-prevents the docking of tRNA carrying new amino acids for addition to the elongating protein chain
What organisms do tetracyclines have GOOD activity against?
- atypicals
- rickettsia
- Plasmodium species (malaria)
Spirochetes (ex:)
- Borrelia burgdorferi
- H. pylori
What organisms do tetracyclines have MODERATE activity against?
- staphylococci (including MRSA)
- S. pneumoniae
What organisms do tetracyclines have POOR activity against?
- most GNRs
- anaerobes
- enterococci
What organisms does tigecycline have GOOD activity against?
- atypicals
- enterococci (including VRE)
- staphylococci (including MRSA)
- S. pneumoniae
What organisms does tigecycline have ACCEPTABLE activity against?
- most GNRs
- anaerobes
What organisms does tigecycline have POOR activity against?
- Pseudomonas
- Proteus
- Providencia
List the categories of adverse effects of (tetra)glycylcyclines?
- GI
- dermatologic
- sensory
- developmental
Describe (tetra)glycylcycline GI toxicity.
Tetracyclines can cause esophageal irritation
-take the drug with water while standing up
Tigecycline (severe):
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
Describe (tetra)glycylcycline dermatologic toxicity.
Photosensitivity often seen
-avoid the sun or use sunscreen
Describe (tetra)glycylcycline sensory toxicity.
Minocycline:
- dizziness
- vertigo
Describe (tetra)glycylcycline developmental toxicity.
Discoloration of developing teeth
Contraindicated in:
- pregnant women
- children younger than 8 years old
Describe (tetra)glycylcycline GI bioavailabililty.
Doxycycline and minocycline
-100%
Tigecycline
-IV only
What should be avoided when taking tetracyclines?
Chelate cations (oral bioavailabililty significantly decreased)
- calcium
- iron
- antacids (calcium, magnesium, aluminum)
- milk
- multivitamins
How should the tetracycline-cation interaction be handled?
- separate by at least 2 hours
- have patients take a week off of the supplements if possible
How does food affect tetracyclines?
Tetracycline
-decreases absorption substantially
Minocycline/Doxycycline
-minimally
How should tetracyclines be dosed in renal dysfunction?
Doxycycline
-does NOT need to be adjusted in renal or hepatic dysfunction
Tetracycline
- eliminated renally
- should NOT be used in cases of renal insufficiency (can worsen renal dysfunction)
Describe tigecycline distribution.
Very large volume of distribution
- distributes highly into many tissues
- extensive distribution leads to low bloodstream concentrations (not ideal choice for treating primary bloodstream infections)
How is tigecycline eliminated?
Hepatically
- achieves low urinary concentrations
- probably should not be used for UTIs
What did an FDA analysis of tigecycline across all indications show?
Mortality DISadvantage compared to other antibiotics
- driven largely by a study of hospital acquired pneumonia
- still may be useful because it has activity against many highly drug resistant organisms in which there are few (or no) alternatives
- those hard to treat infections usually don’t make it into analyses
What are tetracyclines good for?
Uncomplicated respiratory tract infections
- acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis
- sinusitis
- community acquired pneumonia
Drugs of choice for many tick-borne diseases
Use as alternative for:
- skin/soft-tissue infections
- syphilis
- pelvic inflammatory disease (with cefoxitin)
Alternative to ciprofloxacin in bioterrorism scenarios
- anthrax
- plague
- tularemia
Malaria
- prophylaxis
- treatment
What is tigecycline good for?
May have role in treatment of complicated polymicrobial infections
- intra-abdominal infections
- complicated skin/skin-structure infections
Name the macrolides and ketolides.
- Clarithromycin
- Azithromycin
- Erythromycin
- telithromycin
What antibiotics are used most frequently in the outpatient setting?
Macrolides
- broad (not deep) coverage of respiratory pathogens
- increasing resistance (especially in S. pneumoniae)
What is telithromycin?
Ketolide derivative
- better coverage of resistant S. pneumoniae
- significant risk of hepatotoxicity
What is the class patriarch of macrolides?
Erythromycin
Has little use (except as GI stimulant) because:
- adverse effects
- drug interactions
- frequent doses