Pharmacology - Chapter 82 - Basic Principles of Antimicrobial Therapy Flashcards
Chemotherapy - def
refers to treatment of disease by chemicals that kills cells, both good and bad, but specifically those of microorganisms or cancerous effects.
Antimicrobial agent - def
Any agent, natural or synthetic, that has the ability to kill or suppress microorganisms (like sulfonamides.)
Antibiotic - def
a chemical that is produced by one microorganism and has the ability to harm other microorganisms.
What are some misuses of antimicrobial drugs?
Fever of unknown origin, improper dosage, lack of identifiable organism, omission of surgical drainage, untreatable infection, etc.
Narrow Spectrum Antibiotic (like Penicillin) - active against _______. Is it preferred?
A few microorganisms - it is preferred!
Broad Spectrum Antibiotics (like cephalosporins) - active against…
a wide variety of microbes.
Selective toxicity - what does it mean?
It’s the ability of a drug to injure target cells or target organisms without injuring other cells that are in intimate contact with the target.
Selective toxicity - the property that makes antibiotics ___.
Valuable.
Selective Toxicity - achieved by…. (3)
Disruption of the bacterial cell wall, inhibition of an enzyme unique to bacteria, and disruption of bacterial protein synthesis.
Antibiotics - what are the 6 classifications?
Cell wall synthesis, Cell membrane permeability, Protein synthesis, synthesis of nucleic acids, metabolism, viral enzymes.
Cell Wall Synthesis Antibiotics - drugs that…
weaken the cell wall and promote lyses and death (penicillin, cephalosporin.)
Cell Membrane Permeability Antibiotics - drugs…
increase permeability of cell membrane causing leakage of intracellular materials (amphotericin B)
Protein Synthesis Antibiotics - drugs inhibit…
bacterial protein synthesis (Gentamicin)
Bacteriocidal Drugs - KILL bacteria. T/F?
True! (Gentamicin.)
Bacteriostatic Drugs - suppress bacterial growth. T/F?
True! (Tetracycline.)
