Antiinfective agents Flashcards
(20 cards)
What are antiinfective agents designed to target?
Foreign organisms that invaded and infected the body of a human host.
No example sentence.
What should be monitored carefully in children when using antiinfective agents?
Hydration & nutritional status.
Children have increased susceptibility to gastrointestinal & nervous system effects.
Why has no anti-infective drug been developed that does not affect the host?
Because all living cells are somewhat similar.
No example sentence.
What should be done with caution in pregnant & nursing women when using antiinfective agents?
Extreme caution.
Many antiinfectives affect the fetus & also cross into breastmilk, leading to toxic neonatal effects.
What is the goal of antiinfective agents?
Interfere w/ normal function of invading organism to prevent it from reproducing and to cause cell death without affecting host cells.
Example: C/S Test - important to determine type & extent of infection.
How do some antiinfectives (Penicillin) work?
They interfere with biosynthesis of the pathogen cell wall.
What should be monitored during antiinfective therapy for older adults?
Nutritional status & hydration - susceptible to severe Gl, renal, & neurological adverse effects.
Example: Often present s/s different from younger ones.
Why must anti-infectives that adversely affect the liver & kidneys be used with caution in older adults?
They have decreased organ function, so anti-infectives that adversely affect liver & kidneys must be used with caution.
Example: Some (Sulfonamides & trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) prevent cells of invading organism from using substances essential to their growth & development, leading to an inability to divide & eventually to cell death.
What do Aminoglycosides & Macrolides interfere with?
Protein synthesis
Necessary to maintain the cell and allow for cell division.
What do Fluoroquinolones interfere with?
DNA synthesis
Leading to inability to divide and cell death.
What do Antibiotics, Antifungals, & Antiprotozoal alter?
Cell membrane components
Causing them to leak out, leading to cell death.
What is Bacitracin (Baci-IM)?
An antibiotic that interferes w/ cell wall synthesis of susceptible staphylococcal bacteria.
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What are the Adverse Effects of Bacitracin?
Nephrotoxicity and superinfection.
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What are the Indications for using Bacitracin?
Treatment of respiratory infections in infants caused by susceptible staphylococci. Treatment of eye infections. Prevention of infections in minor skin wounds, and treatment of minor skin infections caused by susceptible strains of staphylococci.
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What are the Usual Dosages for Bacitracin?
IM, ophthalmic, & topical. Infants under 2.5 kg: 900 units/kg/d IM in three divided doses; over 2.5 kg: 1,000 units/kg/d IM in two to three divided doses. Ophthalmic use: V2-in. ribbon to affected eye, b.i.d. to q3-4h. Topical use: apply to affected area 1 to 5 times per day.
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What is the definition of narrow spectrum antiinfectives?
Effective against only a few microorganisms with a very specific metabolic pathway or enzyme.
Example: Penicillin is a narrow spectrum antibiotic that targets specific types of bacteria.
What is the definition of broad spectrum antiinfectives?
Interfere with biochemical reactions in many different kinds of microorganisms, making them useful in the treatment of a wide variety of infections.
Example: Tetracycline is a broad spectrum antibiotic that can treat a wide range of bacterial infections.
What is the definition of bactericidal or fungicidal?
So active against the infective microorganisms that they cause death of the cells they affect.
Example: Amphotericin B is a fungicidal medication that kills fungal cells.
What is the definition of bacteriostatic or fungistatic?
Not as aggressive against invading organisms; they interfere with the ability of the cells to reproduce or divide.
Example: Erythromycin is a bacteriostatic antibiotic that inhibits bacterial growth.
What are two reasons for the difficulty in treating immunocompromised patients?
- Antiinfective drugs cannot totally eliminate pathogens without causing severe toxicity in the host.
- Immunocompromised patients do not have the inflammatory or immune response in place to deal with invading organisms.
Causes: malnutrition, age, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, use of immunosuppressant drugs.