Rational Antimicrobial Therapy Flashcards
What is the goal of antimicrobial therapy?
To eliminate infectious organisms from the body without toxicity to the host
What natural defences of the host help prevent infection?
Mucocilliary escalator Flushing effect of urination Gut normal Flora
What are the different groups of bacteria with regards to antimicrobial targetting.
Gram positive aerobes Gram negative aerobes Penicillinase producing staph Obligate anaerobes Atypical species
What are the atypical bacterial species?
-Rickettsia -Mycoplasma -Chlamydia -Bartonella -Mycobacterium
How does bacterial resistance develop?
Genes that code for resistance are already present in the bacterial population. Antimicrobials select for these resistance genes.
When is antimicrobial use appropriate?
When bacterial infection:
- Has been definitively diagnosed
- Is a likely dx considering other evidence
- Is likely to progress without therapy
- Will cause critical illness
What should antimicrobial prescription be based on?
The likely organism to be involved.
n.b. culture and sensitivity if recurring problem!
What common things are antibiotics prescribed for and why should they not be prescribed for these conditions?
- Vomiting without diarrhoea
- This is a dietary indiscretion normally
- Feline haematuria
- Feline urine highly concetrated so v. bactericidal. More likely idopathic cystitis in this sp.
- Haematochezia/Malaena
- ABs not needed.
What are the considerations of antimicrobial selection/prescription?
- What bacteria are likely involved?
- Is culture and sensitivity advisable/possible?
- Is antibacterial treatment needed
- Does the selected AB have appropriate spectrum of activity?
- Pharmakokinetic factors?
- Toxicity issues?
- Ancillary treatments that may be beneficial?
- Residue issues (food producing animals)
- Client compliance and cost
What are the factors that may affect success of antimicrobial therapy?
- What bugs live where?
- Bacterial sensitivity
- Distribution to correct site (Pharmacokinetics)
- Local conditions (pharmacodynamic)
- Client compliance
Where could bacteria come from?
- Environment
- Other animals
- Within animal
- Skin
- GI tract
How can bacterial sensitivty vary between in vitro and in vivo?
- Sensitivity can be overcome in vivo by achieving high concentration e.g. in the urine
- Factors in the host may decrease effectiveness of an antimicrobial in vivo.
What is the MIC?
Minimum inhibitory conentration
i.e.
The minimum concentration of a drug that will inhibit bacterial growth.
Which antimicrobials inhibit cell wall synthesis?
- Penicillins
- Cephalosporins
- Bacitracin
Which antimicrobials inhibit cell wall function?
- Polymixin
- Imidazoles
- Amphoteracin B
- Nystatin