Pharmacology - Antimicrobials Flashcards
How does Chloramphenicol work and what are some adverse effects
Mechanism:
Potent inhibitor of protein synthesis by binding to ribosome RNA 50s
Spectrum:
aerobic and anaerobic gram positive and negative, not active against chlamydia
Side effects:
bone marrow suppression: aplsatic anaemia
nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea
allergy/anaphylaxis
gray baby syndrome
Name some macrolides and describe their mechanism of action, spectrum and side effects.
erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin
Mechanism:
inhibit bacterial protein synthesis by binding to ribosomal RNA 50s
Spectrum:
Gram positive: strep, staphy, corynebacteria
Gram negative: neisseria, bordatella pertussis, treponema, campylobacter, chlamydia, legionella
other: mycoplasma (no cell wall)
Adverse effects:
anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea
inhibit P450 enzymes
liver toxicity
What is the mechanism of action, indications and side effects of Azithromycin?
Mechanism of action:
macrolide antibiotic acting by inhibiting protein synthesis by inhibiting RNA (50s)
Spectrum: haemophilus influenzae, chlamydia, mycobacteria, staph, strep, legionella
Side effect:
allergy: rash, anaphylaxis
CVS: prolong QT interval
CNS: headache, dizziness, altered taste and smell
GIT: n/v/d, abdo pain
Liver: deranged LFT, hepatitis
How does azithromycin differ from other macrolides
high tissue penetration
long elimination t1/2 (2-4 days)
single daily dosing
highly active against chlamydia
What is the mechanism, drug interactions and use of Erythromycin
Mechanism:
macrolide antibiotic that inhibits RNA protein synthesis by binding to 50s subunit
bacteriostatic but may be bacteriocidal at high concentrations
Hepatic inhibitor of CYP3A4
increases concentrations of: benzodiazepines, carbemazepine, digoxin, warfarin
Use:
corynebacteria infection (diphtheria), respiratory infection, ocular infection, chlamydia
What is the mechanism of action, spectrum and side effects of Flucloxacillin
Mechanism:
Beta lactam antibiotic
inhibits growth by binding to active site of penicillin binding protein
interferes with transpeptidation of bacterial cell wall synthesis, bactericidal
Spectrum:
staphylococci
streptococci
not MRSA/anaerobes/gram negatives
Side effects:
allergy/anaphylaxis
GI upset
nephritis
cholestatic jaundice
urticaria
What is the mechanism of action of Penicillin
beta lactam antibiotic
inhibits growth by binding to active site of penicillin binding protein
interferes with transpeptidation of bacterial cell wall synthesis
bactericidal
What are the pharmacokinetics of Penicillin
- PO, IV or IM administration
- Absorption:
Impaired by food in most, administer 1-2 hours before a meal - Distribution:
Wide, most tissues have similiar concentrations to serum
Concentrated in sputum and breast milk = 3-15% of serum
Eye, prostate and CNS = poor penetration
With active inflammation of meninges, penetration for treatment can be achieved - Metabolism:
Half-life of Penicillin G is 30 minutes, or up to 10 hours in renal failure - Excretion:
Renal – 90% tubular secretion, 10% glomerular filtration = dose adjustment in renal impairment
Nafcillin is primarily biliary excretion, and oxacillin, dicloxacillin and cloxacillin have both renal and liver elimination, thus no dose adjustment required in renal failure
Blood levels of all penicillins can be raised by probenecid, which impairs renal tubular secretion of weak acids such as beta-lactam compounds
What is the mechanism of resistance of Penicillin
inactivation by beta lactamase
modification of target PBP
impaired penetration of drug
antibiotics efflux pump
What are the clinical manifestations of a Penicillin allergy
anaphylaxis (type 1)
fever
rash
serum sickness (type 3)
stevens johnson syndrome (type 4)
What is the antimicrobial spectrum of Penicillin G
streptococci
meningococci
enterococci
some pneumococci
treponema pallidum
(P-STEM: penicillin is the first antibiotics where many others stem from)
What antibiotics are used in staphylococcal infections
antistaphylococcal penicillins:
flucloxacillin, dicloxacillin, nafcillin
cephalosporins:
cephazolin, cephalexin
What is the mechanism of resistance in methicillin resistant staph aureus
- beta lactam agents normally bind to penicillin binding proteins
- MRSA produce penicillin binding proteins that have a low affinity for binding beta lactam agents
What is the mechanism of action of Cephalosporins?
- beta lactam class, target PBP
- act by inhibiting cell wall synthesis, disruption of peptidoglycan cross linking
- bactericidal
How are Cephalosporins classified
1st - very active against gram positive cocci (staph and strep), ex. cephazolin, cephalexin
2nd - active against same as 1st with extended gram negative cover, ex. cefaclor, cefuroxime
3rd - expanded gram negative, some active against pseudomonas, some cross BBB, ex, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone
4th - good activity against pseudomonas, cross BBB, ex. cefepime
First Generation = “FA/PHA” Second Generation = “Everything Else” Third Generation = “ONE/TEN/IME” Fourth Generation = “PI” Fifth Generation = “ROL”
Side effects of cephalosporins
- Hypersensitivity: allergy/anaphylaxis, swelling/rash/hives, cross-reactivity with penicillin
- Haematological: Drug-Induced Immune Haemolytic Anaemia (DIIHA), rarely DITP
- GIT: n & v, abdo pain, C. diff diarrhoea & pseudomembranous colitis
- Kidney: increased nephrotoxicity of aminoglycosides, nephritis
- Infusion thrombophlebitis
What type of antibiotic is cephazolin, how does it work and what is its spectrum
first generation cephalosporin
beta lactam agent, act by inhibiting cell wall synthesis
Spectrum:
very active against gram positive cocci (staph and strep)
Why are third generation cephalosporins used in CNS infections
expanded gram negative
some cross BBB
good toxicity profile
What pathogens responsible for CNS infection are not covered by Cephalosporins
HSV
listeria
resistant e coli
What is the relationship between Penicillin allergy and Cephalosporin allergy
5-10% cross allergenicity
What is the mechanism of action of ceftriaxone
Third generation cephalosporin
beta lactam
bacteriocidal
inhibits transpeptidation reaction of cell wall synthesis
What are the pharmacokinetics of ceftriaxone
IV administration
Crosses BBB
Half-life 7-8 hours, allows daily dosing
Mixed clearance with biliary excretion
No dose adjustment required in renal failure
What are the indications for ceftriaxone?
- 3rd gen cephalosporin, with gram positive and expanded gram negative coverage
- less active against staph c.f. 1st/2nd gen
- not degraded by beta lactamase
- effective against beta lactamase producing strains of Haemophilus and Neisseria, penicillin-resistant pneumococcus
- not active against Pseudomonas, Listeria, Enterobacter
What is the mechanism of action and target organisms of Vancomycin
Glycopeptide antibiotic
Mechanism:
- inhibit cell wall synthesis by inhibiting transglycosylase by binding to peptidoglycan pentapeptide (PPP)
- bactericidal
Spectrum:
- gram positive aerobes (beta lactamase producing organisms, MRSA, Enterococci, meningitis by penicillin-resistant pneumonoccus in combination with ceftriaxone)
- gram positive anaerobes (C difficile)
Dose adjust in renal impairment and obesity, Red man syndrome, vesicant
Adverse effects of Vancomycin
local phlebitis
chills, fever
flushing due to histamine release (red man syndrome)
ototoxicity (rare)
renal issues