Pharmacology of Antibiotics Flashcards
What are the different layers of a gram positive and gram negative bacteria?
Gram positive: peptidoglycan, periplasmic space, and plasma membrane
Gram negative: peptidoglycan, periplasmic space, plasma membrane, AND outer membrane
What is an ideal antibiotic?
Substance that kills/inhibits growth of all harmful bacteria in a host, regardless of site of infection, without causing beneficial gut flora or toxicity
What are the target sites of a bacteria for an antibiotic, and what are some examples of each?
- Protein synthesis - macrolides, aminoglycosides (gentamicin), clindamycin
- Cell wall synthesis - B lactams (penicillin, cephalosporins, carbapenems), vancomycin
- Nucleic acid synthesis - quinolones, rifampin
What part of a b-lactam is the most important part for its mechanism?
Its bicyclic fused ring with a b-lactam ring
What is the mechanism of action of b-lactams?
They covalently bind to PBPs (penicillin binding proteins) in the bacterias cytoplasmic membrane.
These PBPs are responsible for the synthesis of the cross linking peptidoglycan cell wall.
The inhibition of this leads to inactivation of inhibitor autolytic enzymes, inducing cell lysis & death.
What can cause b-lactam antibiotic resistance?
The b-lactam antibiotic can be inactivated by beta lactamases produced by the bacteria.
The b-lactam ring in the antibiotic is hydrolysed and gives resistance.
What is given with penicillin to stop resistance, and how do they work?
They are given with b-lactamase inhibitors, e.g. tazobactam, clavulanic acid
They are lipid soluble (hydrophilic) so cannot cross cells.
Where are penicillins eliminated?
In the kidneys.
What is an example of a penicillin G antibiotic, and how is it given?
Benzylpenicillin.
It is acid-labile, so cannot be given orally as stomach acid will destroy it.
It is given IV.
What is an example of a penicillin V antibiotic, and when is it used?
Phenoxymethylpenicillin (oral)
It is used for prophylaxis of pneumococcal and streptococcal infections.
What are some examples of penicillinase-resistant penicillins, and which enzyme are they resistant to?
Flucloxacillin, temocillin.
They are resistant to the bacterial enzyme b-lactamase.
What do staphylococci bacteria produce which makes them resistant to pen G antibiotics (e.g. benzylpenicillin)?
They produce penicillinases, which degrades the penicillin by hydrolysing the b-lactam ring.
Why is flucloxacillin effective to treat penicillin resistant staphylococci?
Because it does not activated by penicillinase.
What are some examples of broad spectrum penicillins?
- Ampicillin
- Amoxicillin
- Doxycycline
- Azithromycin
- Co-amoxiclav
How is ampicillin administered and how much gets absorbed?
Administered orally, and <50% is absorbed.
What can further reduce the absorption of ampicillin?
If taken with food.
You should take it on an empty stomach.
Which broad spec. penicillin is commonly used and why?
Amoxicillin, because it has better absorption.
What does co-amoxiclav consist of?
Amoxicillin + clavulanic acid (a b-lactamase inhibitor)
What are anti-pseudomonal penicillins?
They are combined with b-lactamase inhibitors, used for pseudomonas and other gram -VE bacteria.
What does tazocin and timentin consist of?
Tazocin: piperacillin + tazobactam
Timentin: ticarcillin + clavulanic acid
What type of infections do anti-pseudomonal pencillins treat?
Septicaemia, complicated UTI’s, skin/soft tissue infections, pneumonia
What is mecillinams the active drug of, and which type of bacteria is it used against?
It is the active substance of pivmecillinam (prodrug), which is hydrolysed into mecillinam.
It is used against gram -VE bacteria.
What type of antibiotics are cephalosporins and where are they isolated from?
They are b-lactams, and are isolated from fungi.
What are you at risk of if you take cephalosporins?
Clostridium difficile (c. difficile)
Which types of cephalosporin antibiotics are used for CNS infections?
Cefotaxime and ceftriaxone
Would patients with a penicillin allergy also be allergic to cephalosporins?
Yes.