Prevention and control of infectious diseases

Question 1

Antimicrobial drugs

Answer 1

• able to kill or inhibit the growth of a microorganism
• spectrum of activity
  + broad spectrum: active against a number of different
  microbes
  + narrow spectrum: a limited range of activity

Question 2

Mechanism of action

Answer 2

• bacteriostatic: inhibits replication without killing
• bactericidal: kills the microorganism
• bacteriolytic: lyses and kills the microorganism

Question 3

Groups of antimicrobial drugs

Answer 3

• antibacterials
• antifungals
• antiparasitics
• antivirals

Question 4

Mechanisms of resistance

Answer 4

• enzymatic inactivation of the drug
• change in membrane permeability
• drug efflux by the microorganism
• alterations to drug binding sites
• alternate pathway enzymes

Question 5

Immunisation goals

Answer 5

• eradication of disease

- prevention of symptoms

Question 6

Types of vaccines

Answer 6

- whole organisms
   \+ live
   \+ inactivated
- components of the infectious agent
   \+ toxoids
   \+ protein subunits
   \+ polysaccharides
   \+ conjugates

Question 7

Requirements of an effective vaccine

Answer 7

• biologically stable
• genetically stable
• easy to administer
• commercially viable
• safe
• low risk of adverse effects
• induce long lasting immune response
• cause less disease than natural infection