Session 10 Flashcards
(44 cards)
What are the different groups of antimicrobials?
Antibacterial
Antifungal
Antiviral
Antiprotozoal
How can antibacterial agents be classified?
Bactericidal or bacteriostatic Target site (mechanism of action) Chemical structure (antibacterial class)
How can antibacterials effect cell wall synthesis?
Interfere with the production of the cell wall
e.g. Beta lactames (Interefere with cross linking)
Glycopeptides (Interfere with elongation of the cell wall)
How can antibacterials effect cell membrane function?
Interferes with the function eg Polymixins (Topical and not used as often)
How can antibacterials effect protein synthesis?
Interferes with the bacteria’s ability to make toxic products
e.g. Tetracyclines, Aminoglycosadies (Inhibit synthesis)
How can antibacterials effect nucleic acid synthesis?
Inhibit the DNA coiling eg Quinolones
What are some of the unwanted effects of antibacterials?
GI upsets
Allergies
Organ toxicity
Super infections
What are the 3 main areas of antimicrobial use?
Intrinsic empiric therapy (Use best guest when don’t know pathogen)
Specific or definitive treatment (Know the pathogen and what it is susceptible to)
Prophylaxis (Usually after surgery or if spleen removed)
When would you use broad spectrum antibacterials?
Pathogen is unknown
Multiple pathogens are possible (eg gram +ive and gram -ive)
When would you use combined therapy?
To prevent emergence of resistance
Enhanced activity - addition eg poor blood supply so hard to treat
What is combined therapy?
Know that more than 1 pathogen present eg peritonitis due to bowel perforation
What are some of the commonly used Penicillins? (Type of Beta lactam)
Benzylpenicillin
Amoxicillin
Coamoxiclav
Flucloaxcillin
Give an example of a Cephalosporin (Type of Beta lactam)
Ceftriaxone (Used when cannot use other beta lactams due to risk of c difficile)
Give an example of a Carbapenem (Type of Beta lactam)
Meropenem (A broad antibacterial)
What is Penicillin mainly active against?
Streptococci
What is Amoxicillin active against?
Streptococci and some gram -ives
What is Flucloxacillin active against?
Staphylcocci (Specifically)
Streptococci
What is Co-amoxiclav active against?
Strptococcis
Staphylococci
Gram -ives
Anaerobes
What are Cephalosporins active against?
Mainly gram -ives
Some gram +ives
Cetriaxone is good in the cerebral spinal fluid so used in meningitis
What are Carbapenems active against?
Very broad spectrum
Most gram -ives
Safe to use in patients who are allergic to Penicillin as even though both are Beta lactams, the structure is different enough to not cause a reaction
What is Vancomycin active against?
Most gram +ives
Usually given IV, except for when treating Clostridium difficile infections
Has a very narrow therapeutic window
What is Doxycycline active against?
Streptococcal infections where Penicillin cannot be used
Broad spectrum
Used in atypical pneumonias
Good for using against chlamydia
Cannot be given to children under 12 as it stains their bones and teeth yellow
What is Gentamicin active against?
Gram -ives Good activity in the blood/urine Potentially nephrotoxic Has a narrow therapeutic window Reserved for severe gram -ive sepsis
What is Erythromycin active against?
Can be used as an alternative to Penicillin for gram +ive infections
Active against atypical respiratory pathogens
