Infectious Diseases

Question 1

What are polyosides and what are some examples?

Answer 1

Polyosides = encapsulated bacteria

Haemophilus influenzae
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Neisseria meningitides
Salmonella typhi

Question 2

What are examples of beta-lactamase producing organisms?

Answer 2

GRAM NEGATIVE 
E. coli* 
Klebsiella* 
Enterrococcus (most) 
Pseudomonas 
Proteus 
Salmonella 
Serratia 
Shigella 
Acinetobacter 
Burkholderia 

H. influenzae
M. catarrhalis
(which is why cephalosporin added in pneumonia in non-immunised)

GRAM POSITIVE
S. aureus
Enterobacter

Question 3

What bacteria are macrolides especially effective against?

Answer 3

THINK ‘PNEUMONIAE/PHILIA’

Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Chlamydia pneumoniae
Legionella pneumophilia

Question 4

Drugs that affect the bacterial cell wall are active only against what type of cells?

Answer 4

Young, actively growing

Question 5

Which category of antimicrobial drugs exhibit the LEAST degree of selective toxicity?

Answer 5

Those that disrupt cell membrane function

e.g. cyclic lipopeptides (daptomycin)

Question 6

What portion of penicillin is responsible for its bactericidal activity?

Answer 6

The variable side chain

Question 7

Which antibiotics are not to be used in infants < 2 months (as they display bilirubin from albumin)?

Answer 7

1. Ceftriaxone
   (which is why cefotaxime preferred - both 3rd gen)
2. Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole

Question 8

What are examples of inducers of cytochrome P450?

Answer 8

‘BS CRAP GPS’ (induces me to madness)

Barbituates
St John’s wart

Carbamazepines**
Rifampicin
Alcohol (chronic)
Phenytoin**

Griseofulvin
Phenobarbitone
Sulphonylureas

** = anticonvulsant

Question 9

What are examples of inhibitors of cytochrome P450?

Answer 9

‘SICKFACES.COM G(roup)’

Sodium valproate**
Isoniozid
Cimetidine
Ketoconazole

Fluconazole 
Alcohol (binge) 
Chloramphenicol
ERYTHROMYCIN
SULFONAMIDES 

Ciprofloxacin
Omeprazole
Metronidazole

Grapefruit juice

** = anticonvulsant