Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Drugs

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What approach involves the constructive use of formulation ingredients to enhance the activity of the original preservative agent?

Bioavailability optimization

Antimicrobial synergy

Hurdle technology (correct)

Biodegradable technology

In optimizing biocide formulations, what is particularly important in situations of pH dependency or poor water solubility?

Ensuring maximum availability of the active moiety (correct)

Enhancing aroma

Improving color intensity

Maximizing shelf life

What is a key consideration in modeling the activity of biocidal agents apart from temperature and pH?

Presence of extraneous matter (correct)

Humidity levels

Type of packaging used

Nature of lighting in the environment

What term is used to describe the cumulative bactericidal effect achieved by using formulation ingredients with intrinsic antimicrobial activity?

Hurdle technology Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a factor affecting the activity of antimicrobial agents on a given organism?

Color of the challenge organism Signup and view all the answers

What can lead to the activation of latent ribonucleases and the consequent breakdown of RNA in cells?

Depletion of intracellular potassium Signup and view all the answers

Which factor does NOT influence the activity of antimicrobial agents on a given population of organisms?

Location of the challenge population Signup and view all the answers

What is the proposed outcome of the irreversible release of nucleotides and nucleosides from cells following an autolytic process induced by certain biocides?

Autocidal process committing cells to death Signup and view all the answers

Which substances are examples of materials that may leak from treated cells, besides amino acids, purines, pyrimidines, and pentoses?

Nucleotides and nucleosides Signup and view all the answers

What is the impact of a prolonged or low concentration action of a drug on cell leakage?

Induction of bacteriostasis Signup and view all the answers

What is an autocidal (suicide) process in relation to cell death?

Committing the injured cell to death Signup and view all the answers

What is a key strategy mentioned in the text to enhance the penetration of biocides to their target?

Use of permeabilizing chelators Signup and view all the answers

Which type of antimicrobial drugs display an affinity for the negative charges of sugar residues on the microbial cell surface?

Antimicrobial drugs whose active species is positively charged Signup and view all the answers

How do antimicrobial chemicals with a long alkyl chain disrupt the microbial cell?

By integrating into the hydrophobic region of phospholipid molecules Signup and view all the answers

Which biocides are examples of oxidizing agents that can exert specific effects on essential microbial macromolecules?

Chlorine, hypochlorites, bromine, iodophors Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary factor that affects the adsorption of biocides on the cell surface?

The pH of the environment Signup and view all the answers

Which biocides are known to progress from early, sublethal events to multiple lesions of bactericidal consequence?

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) and chlorohexidine Signup and view all the answers

What are the three main factors to consider in evaluating the mechanism of action of a biocide?

The initial health of the organism, the duration of contact with the biocide, and the concentration of biocide employed Signup and view all the answers