Week 2 Flashcards
(23 cards)
What is intrinsic resistance
Natural resistance due to inherent structural or functional traits of the microorganism (e.g., lack of a drug target or impermeable membrane).
What is acquired resistance
Resistance developed through genetic changes, enabling the microorganism to survive antimicrobial treatment
transformation in antimicrobial resistance?
uptake of free DNA from environment by a bacterium.
Congugation in bacterial resistance?
Direct transfer of genetic material
Transduction in bacteria resistance?
Transfer from one bacterial DNA to another. (Viruses that infect bacteria)
Selective pressure of antimicrobials and resistance?
Overuse/ misuse kills susceptible microbes but resistant ones survive/ proliferate
What is antimicrobial stewardship?
Optimise use of antimicrobials to improve outcomes, reduce resistance and lower healthcare costs.
Why should narrow-spectrum antibiotics be preferred when possible?
< disruption of normal flora and prevent resistance
When is combination therapy appropriate?
For treating multi-drug resistant pathogens.
Why should narrow-spectrum antibiotics be preferred when possible?
< disruption of normal flora and prevent resistance
What factors should be considered before prescribing antimicrobials?
Age, comorbidities, drug resistance, immunosuppression, allergies, host susceptibility, pregnancy
Empirical therapy?
Initial treatment started before identifying the pathogen, typically broad-spectrum.
Focus of antimicrobial stewardship?
Addressing resistance through antimicrobials, with education, and good practice.
Directed therapy?
Antimicrobial treatment tailored to culture results.
When is combination therapy used?
Prevent resistant or mixed infections.
Importance of limiting prolonged antimicrobial exposure?
Avoid resistance, adverse effects, unnecessary drug exposure.
Example of drug contra with antimicrobials?
Macrolides and statins, muscle toxicity
Beta-lactam antibiotic target (penicillin)?
Bacterial cell wall synthesis
How do macrolides work (erythromycin)?
Inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis
How do infectious agents become resistant to antimicrobials? (3)
1- transformation, 2- congugation, 3- transduction
According to empirical therapy what are the boundaries? (5)
1- multiple antimicrobials, 2- broad- spectrum, 3- reviewed as results cultures come in, 4- Therapeutic Guidelines based, 5- emergent situations e.g sepsis
