Specific drug profiles

Question 1

Clindamycin

Answer 1

1. Covers for most gram positive bacteria
2. Indicated in Staph. aureus infections
3. Binds to 50s bacterial ribosomal subunit. Inhibition of elongation of new protein chain
4. Side effects: CDI and diarrhoea

Question 2

Fucloxacillin

Answer 2

1. Covers for methicillin sensitive Staph aureus but not MRSA and Beta haemolytic streptococci
2. Targeted treatment of MSSA infections
3. It is a beta lactam, inhibits bacterial wall synthesis enzymes
4. Few side effects but allergies can be common

Question 3

Meropenem

Answer 3

1. Ultra-broad spectrum - includes most Pseudomonas aeruginosa
2. Doesn’t cover MRSA
3. Indicated for severe infection requiring broad spectrum abx
4. Very few side effects but allergy is to be considered
5. Mode of action is inhibition of cell wall synthesis enzymes (beta-lactamase stable beta lactam)

Question 4

Glycopeptides - vancomycin and teicoplanin

Answer 4

1. Covers most gram positive bacteria and NO gram negative bacteria
2. Empiric treatment of infection likely to be caused by MRSA
3. Empiric treatment of infections likely to be Staph Aureus
4. Binds to D-alanyl-D-alanine on NAM pentapeptides, blocks peptidoglycan cross linking
5. Side effect: renal impairment
6. Pre dose monitoring to confirm therapeutic levels