Anti-infectives in Medicine

Anti-infectives

• Bactericidal vs. Bacteriostatic Antibiotics: Bactericidal antibiotics kill bacteria, while bacteriostatic antibiotics inhibit bacterial growth. Examples of bactericidal antibiotics include penicillins and aminoglycosides. Examples of bacteriostatic antibiotics include tetracyclines and macrolides.

• Broad-Spectrum vs. Narrow-Spectrum Antibiotics: Broad-spectrum antibiotics target a wider range of bacteria, while narrow-spectrum antibiotics target a specific type of bacteria.

• Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance: Strategies to prevent antimicrobial resistance include using antibiotics judiciously, completing antibiotic courses, and developing new antibiotics.

• Prophylactic Treatment: Prophylactic treatment is used to prevent infection. Examples include prophylactic antibiotics prior to certain surgeries.

• Common Adverse Effects of Antibiotics: Common adverse effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, allergic reactions, and potentially superinfections.

• Culture and Sensitivity: Culture and sensitivity testing identifies the bacteria causing an infection and determines which antibiotic is most effective.

• Penicillin Allergy Contraindications: Clients with a penicillin allergy should avoid penicillins, cephalosporins, and potentially other beta-lactam antibiotics.

• Photosensitivity-Causing Drugs: Some antibiotics, such as tetracyclines and sulfa drugs, can cause photosensitivity.

• Peak and Trough Monitoring Drugs: Certain antibiotics, like aminoglycosides, require peak and trough monitoring to ensure therapeutic drug levels and prevent toxicity.

• Oral Candidiasis (Thrush): Causes include antibiotic use, weakened immune system. Treatment includes antifungal medications such as nystatin and clotrimazole.

• Antibiotics Contraindicated During Pregnancy: Some antibiotics, such as tetracyclines and aminoglycosides, may have potential risks to a developing fetus. Always check specific guidelines.

HIV Antiretrovirals

• Pharmacological Classes of HIV Antiretrovirals: HIV antiretroviral drugs target various stages of the viral life cycle. Examples of classes and their drugs include:

• Nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs): Tenofovir

• Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs): Efavirenz

• Protease inhibitors (PIs): Lopinavir/ritonavir

• Integrase inhibitors (INSTIs):

• Fusion inhibitors; Entry inhibitors (Enfuvirtide)

• Multiple Antiretrovirals: Combining multiple antiretroviral drugs maximizes efficacy in treating HIV, and often minimizes development of resistance.

Antibiotics (Specifics)

• This section details the mechanism of action, indications, adverse effects, contraindications, client teaching, and special considerations for various antibiotics. (Specifics for each drug are not included here due to the extensive nature of the information)

Antifungals

• This section details the indications, adverse effects, and monitoring requirements for antifungal medications like amphotericin B, ketoconazole, fluconazole, and nystatin. (Specifics for each drug are not included here due to the extensive nature of the information)

Antivirals

• This section details the indications for antiviral medications like acyclovir/valacyclovir and oseltamivir. (Specifics for each drug are not included here due to the extensive nature of the information)

Immunomodulators & Antineoplastic Drugs

Bone Marrow Suppression

• Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, fever, and increased risk of infection.

• Neutropenic Precautions: Precautions are needed for immunocompromised clients to prevent infection. These strategies include limiting exposure to others with infections and monitoring blood counts.

Vaccines in Immunocompromised Clients

• Specific vaccines to avoid in immunocompromised clients include live attenuated vaccines like MMR, varicella, and others.

• Cytotoxic Chemotherapy Adverse Effects: Common adverse effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, hair loss, anemia, and myelosuppression (bone marrow suppression).

• Vesicants: Vesicants are drugs that cause blisters or tissue damage when given intravenously. Some chemotherapy agents are vesicants.

Immunostimulants

• This section details the indications and adverse effects for immunostimulant medications such as interferon alfa-2b and aldesleukin. (Specifics are not included due to extensive information).

Immunosuppressants

• This section details the indications, adverse effects, and contraindications for immunosuppressants like cyclosporine, azathioprine, and monoclonal antibodies. (Specifics are not included due to extensive information)

Immunizations

• This section details the indications and administration schedules for various immunizations. (Specifics for each immunization are not included due to the extensive information)

Immunoglobulins

• Specifics for immunoglobulins such as Rho(D) immune globulin (RhoGAM) are provided below. (Specifics are not included due to the extensive information)

Antineoplastic Drugs

• This section details the adverse effects and contraindications for antineoplastic medications. Specific information is not included due to the extensive information. Details on drugs like cyclophosphamide, mesna, methotrexate, leucovorin, doxorubicin, vincristine, and tamoxifen are not included due to extensive information.

This quiz covers essential concepts related to anti-infectives, including the differences between bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibiotics, the spectrum of action of various antibiotics, and strategies for preventing antimicrobial resistance. It also discusses prophylactic treatment and common adverse effects of antibiotic use.