Antibiotics mechanism of action

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Which of the following describes the function of beta-lactam antibiotics?

Targeting bacterial cell walls, preventing their synthesis and causing cell lysis. (correct)
Interfering with bacterial ribosomes to inhibit protein synthesis.
Disrupting the bacterial cell membrane, leading to leakage of cellular contents.
Binding to peptidoglycan precursors to prevent cell wall construction.

Antiviral agents are crucial in treating infections caused by bacteria.

False (B)

What cellular process do aminoglycosides primarily inhibit in bacteria?

protein synthesis

Vancomycin, a type of ______, inhibits cell wall synthesis by binding to peptidoglycan precursors.

glycopeptide Signup and view all the answers

Match the antibiotic with its mechanism of action:

Beta-Lactams = Inhibit cell wall synthesis Tetracyclines = Inhibit protein synthesis Antivirals = Target viruses Antifungals = Target fungi Signup and view all the answers

Which antibiotic revolutionized antimicrobial therapy after its discovery in 1928?

Penicillin (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which ribosomal subunit do tetracyclines bind to, thus preventing protein synthesis?

30S (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following antibiotics inhibits protein synthesis by binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit?

Erythromycin (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which antibiotic is primarily used to treat severe infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, including MRSA and C. difficile?

Vancomycin (D) Signup and view all the answers

Ciprofloxacin is typically administered via injection due to its narrow-spectrum activity.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

Name the mechanism where bacteria produce enzymes to chemically modify and neutralize antibiotics?

Enzymatic inactivation Signup and view all the answers

__________ is a process where bacteria exchange resistance genes through mechanisms like conjugation, transformation, or transduction.

Horizontal gene transfer Signup and view all the answers

Match the following antibiotics with their primary use:

Ciprofloxacin = Treating urinary tract, respiratory tract, and gastrointestinal infections Doxycycline = Treating acne,urinary tract infections, intestinal infections, and eye infection Vancomycin = Treating severe bacterial infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, including MRSA and C. difficile Gentamicin = Treating serious infections caused by aerobic gram-negative bacteria Signup and view all the answers

Which mechanism of antibiotic resistance involves changes in the bacterial cellular structures that antibiotics target?

Altered target sites (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of efflux pumps in bacterial antibiotic resistance?

To actively expel antibiotics out of the cell (D) Signup and view all the answers

Genetic mutations leading to antibiotic resistance only occur through horizontal gene transfer.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the key difference between bactericidal and bacteriostatic drugs?

Bactericidal drugs have a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) equal to the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), while in bacteriostatic drugs MBC exceeds MIC. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Antibiotic prophylaxis involves treating an existing infection with a broad-spectrum antibiotic.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

Define empiric therapy and explain its purpose.

Empiric Antibiotic therapy is the administration of antibiotics before the causative pathogen is identified, aimed at early intervention to improve treatment outcomes. Signup and view all the answers

A(n) ________ infection is the same infection that re-occurs after 2 weeks of treatment, often due to organism resistance or patient non-adherence.

relapse Signup and view all the answers

Match the antibiotic with its description

Amoxicillin = Broad-spectrum penicillin used for ear, nose, throat, and skin infections. Penicillin G = Used for conditions like strep throat and meningitis due to its bactericidal effect. Azithromycin = Macrolide antibiotic for respiratory, skin, and sexually transmitted infections. Signup and view all the answers

Which situation is most likely to warrant antibiotic prophylaxis?

Preventing infection in a patient undergoing a high-risk surgical procedure. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Direct toxicity from antibiotics is always predictable and can be completely avoided with appropriate monitoring.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

Explain how overuse of antibiotics contributes to antibiotic resistance, and provide one potential consequence of this resistance.

Overuse of antibiotics creates selective pressure, favoring the survival and proliferation of resistant bacteria. A consequence is the increased difficulty in treating common infections, leading to higher healthcare costs. Signup and view all the answers

Antimicrobial Agents

Agents that kill or inhibit the growth of microbes, including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics.

Significance of Antimicrobials

Treating infections caused by microbes, leading to improved health outcomes.

Beta-Lactams

A class of antibiotics (penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems) that inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis, leading to cell lysis.