Principles of Anti microbial therapy

Question 1

When must antimicrobial therapy be administered for it to be considered as empirical therapy?

Answer 1

After the onset of symptoms and before the definite pathogen is isolated

Question 2

What are bactericidal and bacteriostatic antimicrobials?

Answer 2

They are antimicrobials that kill bacteria (bactericidal) or arrest the growth of bacteria (bacteriostatic) respectively at therapeutic drug concentrations .

Question 3

Name AT LEAST 6 host factors that need to be considered before administering an antibiotic to a patient?

Answer 3

Any of the below.

1. Age,
2. Weight,
3. Renal function,
4. Hepatic function,
5. Drug allergies,
6. Recent antimicrobial use,
7. immune system status,
8. Diet, (Taking with dairy products or supplements)
9. Pregnancy status,
10. Genetic factors (e.g. G6PD status)
11. Medications that are being taken for other concurrent illnesses
12. Other co-morbdities

Question 4

What does it mean when an antibiotic is said to demonstrate time-dependent killing?

Answer 4

The rate and extent of microbe killing depends on the length of time the antimicrobial concentration is above the MIC (T>MIC).

Question 5

What does it mean when an antibiotic is said to demonstrate concentration-dependent killing?

Answer 5

The rate and extent of microorganism killing are dependent on the antimicrobial concentration. The pharmacodynamic parameter predictive of outcome for concentration dependent drugs is the peak concentration (Cmax/MIC).

Question 6

What is a post antibiotic effect?

Answer 6

PAE is the suppression of microbial growth that persists even after the levels of antibiotic have fallen below the MIC.