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Questions and Answers
What is the mechanism of action of attachment antagonists?
What is the mechanism of action of attachment antagonists?
Why can physicians safely use antimicrobial drugs despite their potential danger?
Why can physicians safely use antimicrobial drugs despite their potential danger?
What is an ideal characteristic of an antimicrobial agent?
What is an ideal characteristic of an antimicrobial agent?
What is a potential consequence of using broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents?
What is a potential consequence of using broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents?
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What is the term for the number of different pathogens a drug acts against?
What is the term for the number of different pathogens a drug acts against?
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Which test assesses the efficacy of antimicrobials by measuring the diameter of the zone of inhibition?
Which test assesses the efficacy of antimicrobials by measuring the diameter of the zone of inhibition?
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Why is it important to consider the spectrum of action of an antimicrobial agent?
Why is it important to consider the spectrum of action of an antimicrobial agent?
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What is a key factor in the development of antimicrobial drugs?
What is a key factor in the development of antimicrobial drugs?
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What is the primary concern when prescribing antimicrobial drugs to pregnant women?
What is the primary concern when prescribing antimicrobial drugs to pregnant women?
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What is the therapeutic index of a drug?
What is the therapeutic index of a drug?
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What is a potential consequence of disrupting normal microbiota with antimicrobial drugs?
What is a potential consequence of disrupting normal microbiota with antimicrobial drugs?
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How do bacteria acquire resistance to antimicrobial drugs?
How do bacteria acquire resistance to antimicrobial drugs?
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What is the primary reason physicians do not always prescribe the antimicrobial with the largest zone of inhibition?
What is the primary reason physicians do not always prescribe the antimicrobial with the largest zone of inhibition?
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What is the term for the ratio of the dose of a drug that can be tolerated to the drug's effective dose?
What is the term for the ratio of the dose of a drug that can be tolerated to the drug's effective dose?
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What is a potential consequence of antimicrobial drug toxicity?
What is a potential consequence of antimicrobial drug toxicity?
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Why are hospitalized patients at greater risk for secondary infections due to disruption of normal microbiota?
Why are hospitalized patients at greater risk for secondary infections due to disruption of normal microbiota?
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What is the purpose of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test?
What is the purpose of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test?
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What is the advantage of the oral route of administration for antimicrobial drugs?
What is the advantage of the oral route of administration for antimicrobial drugs?
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What is the difference between the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of an antibacterial drug?
What is the difference between the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of an antibacterial drug?
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What is the purpose of the Etest?
What is the purpose of the Etest?
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What is the importance of considering the route of administration when prescribing an antimicrobial drug?
What is the importance of considering the route of administration when prescribing an antimicrobial drug?
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What is the zone of inhibition in a Kirby-Bauer test?
What is the zone of inhibition in a Kirby-Bauer test?
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What is the purpose of the Kirby-Bauer test?
What is the purpose of the Kirby-Bauer test?
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What is the importance of considering the distribution of an antimicrobial drug to the infected tissues?
What is the importance of considering the distribution of an antimicrobial drug to the infected tissues?
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Study Notes
Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Action
- Attachment antagonists block viral attachment or receptor proteins, a new area of antimicrobial drug development.
Clinical Considerations in Prescribing Antimicrobial Drugs
-
Ideal antimicrobial agent characteristics:
- Readily available
- Inexpensive
- Chemically stable
- Easily administered
- Nontoxic and nonallergenic
- Selectively toxic against a wide range of pathogens
-
Spectrum of action:
- Narrow-spectrum: effective against few organisms
- Broad-spectrum: effective against many organisms, but may allow for secondary or superinfections to develop by killing normal flora and reducing microbial antagonism
Effectiveness of Antimicrobial Agents
- Efficacy assessment methods:
- Diffusion susceptibility test
- Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test
- Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) test
Routes of Administration
- Methods of administration:
- Topical application for external infections
- Oral route for self-administration
- Intramuscular administration via needle into muscle
- Intravenous administration directly to the bloodstream
- Importance of knowing how the antimicrobial agent will be distributed to infected tissues
Safety and Side Effects
- Toxicity:
- Cause of many adverse reactions is poorly understood
- Drugs may be toxic to kidneys, liver, or nerves
- Consideration needed when prescribing drugs to pregnant women
- Therapeutic index is the ratio of the dose of a drug that can be tolerated to the drug's effective dose
- Allergies:
- Allergic reactions are rare but may be life-threatening
- Anaphylactic shock
- Disruption of normal microbiota:
- May result in secondary infections
- Overgrowth of normal flora, causing superinfections
- Of greatest concern for hospitalized patients
Resistance to Antimicrobial Drugs
- Development of resistance in populations:
- Some pathogens are naturally resistant
- Bacteria acquire resistance through:
- New mutations of chromosomal genes
- Acquisition of R plasmids via transformation, transduction, and conjugation
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Description
This quiz covers the mechanisms of antimicrobial action, including prevention of virus attachment and entry, and the use of antimicrobial drugs.
