Antibiotics general
Exploits differences between human cells and bacteria
Ideally, causative organisms are identified before antibiotics
Invaders
Prokaryotes - cell without nucleus. Bacteria causes most infectious diseases
Eukaryotes - cells with nuclei
Viruses
Infection vs. Colonization
Infections: invasion and multiplication of organisms. Prevalent in immunocompromised patients
Colonization: happens in the body by normal flora. Can help in controlling growth of potentially pathogenic organisms
Micro Review
Shape
Aerobes and anaerobes
Gram positive and Gram negative
Gram positive cell wall
- Gram stain (crystal violet) turns it purple
Gram negative cell wall
Bactericidal
Drugs are directly lethal to bacteria at clinically achievable concentrations
Bacteriostatic
Drugs can slow bacterial growth but do not cause cell death
Host defences especially important for these antibiotics
Superinfection
New microbes take over when antibiotics kill normal floral
Microbe resistant to drug action = difficult to treat
Resistance to Antibiotics
Selection of mutant bacteria enhanced by
Improper choice of antibiotic
- Dose of antibiotic is too low
- Dosing not continued for long enough
- Improper use of antibiotics, e.g. to treat a viral infection
- Prophylactic use of antibiotics, e.g. in animal feed
Antibiotic Therapy
Host factors - age, allergies, organ health, pregnancy, site of infection, and general health
Allergic reactions
Mechanisms of Action
Sulfonamides
One of the first groups of antibiotics. First industrial scale antibiotics. Use is a lot narrower than it once was
eg. Sulfamethoxazole
Indication - Sulfonamides
Combined with trimethoprim
- co-trimoxazole
Reaches effective concentrations in the kidney
Contraindicated Condition - Sulfonamides
Known allergy: applies to other derivatives of the sulfa-like drugs
Pregnant women
Adverse Effects - Sulfonamides
Skin allergies (hypesensitivity)
Blood (bone marrow suppression)
- Agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia, aplastic anemia
GI
- Nausea and vomiting (not allergic reactions)
Interactions with Sulfonamides
B-Lactam Antibiotics
Alexander Fleming
4 groups
Penicillins
B-Lactam group
Naturally occurring substance
- Sensitive to B-lactamase
Semi-synthetic - changed slightly
Aminopenicillins (broad-spectrum)
- Amoxicillin (more acid-stable), ampicillin
Antipseudomonal penicillins
Pseudomonas aeruginoas
Opportunistic infections
respiratory tract ears eyes CNS UTI endocarditis
Penicillins - Mechanism of Action
Enter the bacteria and bind to penicillin-binding proteins, normal cell wall synthesis is disrupted and bacteria cells rupture.
Only targets bacteria cells
Penicillins Indication
Bactericidal - depends on type used
Administration
Drug Resistance to Penicillins
Can produce enzymes capable of destroying penicillins
Bacteria make B-lactamases that split the B-lactam ring
B-lactamases inhibitors
Penicillins: Adverse effects
Generally well tolerated
GI problems - disturb normal gut flora
Allergic reactions