PHARM: Antibiotics + Antivirals Flashcards
(41 cards)
directed vs empirical vs prophylactic Tx
- directed: when we know what the pathogen is
- empirical: when we don’t know what the pathogen is - ‘best guess’/broad spectrum
- prophylactic: preventative when there is a significant risk of infection
4 features of an ideal therapeutic agent
- gets to site of infection
- destroys pathogen but not host (selective toxicity)
- stays @ target site long enough to be effective
- eliminated from body w/o causing harm
why do we target folate synthesis as a target in bacteria? which antibiotic does this?
- b/c humans can get folate from diet whereas bacteria can only synthesise it endogenously
- trimethoprim, methotrexate
why is protein synthesis a good target in bacteria?
- difference in bacteria vs animal cell ribosomes
when would we use bacteriostatic vs bactericidal antibiotic?
- bacteriostatic: healthy immune function
- bactericidal: immunocompromised ppl h/w need to consider that dying gram -ve bacteria can release endotoxins, gram +ve bacteria release exotoxins
MIC vs MBC vs MEC
- MIC: minimum inhibitory concentration (bacteriostatic)
- MBC: minimum bactericidal concentration
- MEC: minimum effective plasma concentration
time-dependent antibiotics + examples
- increasing dose does not increase effect, just need to maintain effect for a certain period of time
- e.g. B-lactams (penicillins + cephalosporins)
concentration-dependent antibiotics + examples
- increasing dose increases effect
- e.g. aminoglycosides,
fluoroquinolones
superinfection
- new infection occurring in a Pt that is being treated for an existing condition
- due to imbalance of microflora
- e.g. C. difficile infection after antibiotics
MIND ME antimicrobial creed
- Microbiology-guided therapy (knowing the pathogen first)
- Indications are evidence based
- Narrowest spectrum possible
- Dosage personalised to Pt
- Minimise duration of therapy
- Ensure oral therapy when appropriate
why is it difficult to get broad spectrum antivirals?
- they differ so much in their structure so can’t get one that targets many viruses
do virucidal drugs exist?
- no, only virustatic
- viruses are not living so can’t kill them
why do viruses become resistant to drugs?
- mutate very quickly
should we always take antivirals?
- no, this can lead to resistance as not necessary
- immune system = best defence
high risk populations for viruses
- pregnant women
- newborns
- elderly
- immunocompromised
which viruses have antiviral Tx?
- herpesviridiae: herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus, cytomegalovirus
- influenza
- hep B and C
- RSV (respiratory syncytial virus)
- HIV
examples of antiretroviral (ART) drug classes
- reverse transcriptase inhibitors (nucleoside or non-nucleoside) - NRTI or NNRTI
- protease inhibitors
- entry inhibitors
- integrase inhibitors
adverse effects to antivirals
- headache, malaise (general discomfort), fatigue e.g. guanine analogs and neuraminidase inhibitors
- dose-limiting toxicity e.g. hepatomegaly
- significant drug interactions e.g. protease inhibitors for HIV
aim of ART (antiretroviral) - HIV Tx
- achieve maximal and durable suppression of viral load
- restore or preserve immune function
- resolve symptoms of HIV infections
> improve QOL - reduce mortality
- prevent HIV transmission
best type of Tx for ART
- combination therapy
- 3 or more drugs from 2 or more classes
- fixed dose combinations available (in one tablet) to increase Pt compliance
- e.g. HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy)
when is the CD4 count considered AIDS and how many do we want ideally?
- CD4 count < 200
- ideally we want 500+
penicillin: class, MOA, adverse effects, example, how is it excreted?
- B-lactams (bactericidal - gram +ve)
- MOA: irreversibly inhibits transpeptidases which facilitate cross-linking and strengthening of the cell wall
- adverse effects: allergies, superinfection
- e.g. amoxicillin (generally 1st line Tx)
- excreted renally
cephalosporins: class, MOA, contraindication, side effects, example
- B-lactams (bactericidal against gram +ve and -ve)
- MOA: irreversibly inhibits transpeptidases which facilitate cross-linking and strengthening of the cell wall
- can be contraindicated in Pts w/ penicillin allergy
- GI issues (‘lex’ sounds like laxative)
- e.g. cephalexin
glycopeptides: MOA, adverse effects, examples
- bactericidal (gram +ve only)
- MOA: irreversibly inhibits transglycosidase enzyme > inhibits cell wall synthesis
- adverse effects: red man syndrome (vasodilation from rapid IV administration), ototoxicity, nephrotoxicity
- e.g. vancomycin (ambulance Van = Red Cross = gram +ve, also Red man’s) - used for MRSA or B-lactam allergies