Treating Infections

Question 1

What are antimicrobials?

Answer 1

All drugs/chemicals that kill microorganisms

Question 2

What are antibiotics?

Answer 2

A chemical derived from a mould or bacterium that can kill microorganisms and cure bacterial infections

Question 3

What is mupirocin produced by?

Answer 3

Pseudomonas fluorescent (bacterium)

Question 4

What is penicillin derived from?

Answer 4

Mould

Question 5

What are the 4 features of a good antimicrobial?

Answer 5

1. Selective toxicity - effective against microbe without harming host
2. No resistance
3. Bactericidal (kills organism) rather than bacteriostatic (inhibits growth)
4. Good pharmacokinetics

Question 6

What are good pharmacokinetics?

Answer 6

• No side effects
• Not inactivated by enzymes secreted by microbes or host
• Reach high level in body and stay there (fewer doses)

Question 7

What are broad spectrum antimicrobials and when are they used?

Answer 7

Kills wide range of organisms. Used when you don’t know what the infection is

Question 8

What are narrow spectrum antimicrobials and when are they used?

Answer 8

Kills only specific organisms. Used when diagnosis is certain

Question 9

What is the purpose of ‘Notifications of Communicable Diseases’

Answer 9

Gives information on infection and patient. Used to identify and prevent outbreaks. Coordinated by Public Health England