Pharmacology Chapter on Antibiotics

A type of bacteria that is resistant to methicillin, a penicillin antibiotic.

The ability of bacteria to resist the effects of penicillin antibiotics.

Side effects of penicillin use, including renal failure, ototoxicity, and thrombophlebitis.

Penicillins that are effective against a limited range of bacteria.

Penicillins that are effective against a wider range of bacteria.

A serious adverse reaction to penicillin that can range from mild rash to life-threatening anaphylaxis.

Vancomycin should be administered slowly to prevent "red man syndrome."

Regularly checking for kidney function and drug levels to prevent damage from prolonged use or high doses.

Use cephalosporins as an alternative to penicillins for patients with mild penicillin allergies.

Avoid cephalosporins in patients with a history of anaphylaxis to penicillin.

Cephalosporins are classified by the speed of reaction (immediate, accelerated, or late).

Anaphylaxis presents with symptoms like laryngeal edema, bronchoconstriction, and severe hypotension.

MRSA is transmitted through contact, colonizing skin and nostrils.

Prevent MRSA transmission through hand hygiene, covering infected sites, and proper wound care.

Beta-lactamases cause resistance to cephalosporins. 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins are more resistant.

Cephalosporins are poorly absorbed from the gut, but distributed widely throughout the body; kidneys eliminate them, so you must monitor kidney function.

A bacterial infection often resulting from broad-spectrum antibiotic use, transmitted via spores.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; a bacterial infection resistant to many common antibiotics.

Responsible antibiotic use to prevent antibiotic resistance.

Frequent and proper handwashing, critical for preventing infection transmission.

Using gloves, gowns, and possibly masks when caring for patients with resistant infections.

An antibiotic used to treat MRSA infections.

Antibiotics used to treat C. diff infections.

Regular evaluation of drug effectiveness and negative effects like side effects for patients.

Potassium is essential for maintaining electrical excitability of muscles, regulating acid-base balance, and supporting heart contractions.

Hypokalemia refers to a low potassium level in the blood, often below 3.5 mEq/L. It can be caused by diuretics, diarrhea, or vomiting.

Hyperkalemia is a condition of high potassium levels in the blood, often caused by potassium-sparing diuretics, renal failure, trauma, or high potassium intake.

Hypomagnesemia is a deficiency of magnesium in the blood, frequently caused by alcoholism, diuretics, or malabsorption.

Hypermagnesemia is a condition characterized by excessive magnesium in the blood, often arising from renal failure or excessive magnesium intake.

Penicillin requires careful dosing to balance bacterial killing and minimizing toxicity. Single large doses or multiple smaller doses are used, with frequent monitoring of serum levels.

Penicillin's peak serum level must be high enough to kill bacteria, while the trough level must be low enough to avoid toxicity. Timing of peak and trough is critical.

Nitrofurantoin is primarily used for acute infections of the lower urinary tract (urethra and bladder). It is not recommended for upper tract infections or complicated infections.

Nitrofurantoin can cause a variety of adverse effects including GI upset, respiratory problems, blood abnormalities, nerve damage, and hepatotoxicity.

These drugs inhibit tetrahydro-folic acid synthesis, a key step in bacterial growth. They are broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMZ) are often used together in a fixed-dose combination to treat various infections, including otitis media, bronchitis, shigellosis, and pneumonia.

Penicillin, cephalosporins, and vancomycin can intensify the effects of muscle relaxants like pancuronium.

When given with other ototoxic or nephrotoxic drugs, penicillin can increase their adverse effects.

Diuretics that act in the ascending loop of Henle, effectively removing fluid and electrolytes.

Diuretics that target the early distal convoluted tubule, less potent than loop diuretics, effective for various conditions like hypertension and mild edema.

Diuretics that block aldosterone in the distal convoluted tubule, conserve potassium while promoting fluid loss.

Diuretics that draw water into the renal tubules, reducing intracranial or intraocular pressure.

First-line treatment for hypertension is thiazides, potassium-sparing and loop diuretics may be used in specific cases.

Loop diuretics are used for rapid fluid removal in heart failure or cirrhosis, potassium sparing for heart failure.

Furosemide can cause hypokalemia, hyponatremia, hypotension, ototoxicity, dehydration, hyperuricemia, and imbalances in calcium, magnesium.

Thiazides are less effective when urine flow is limited, unlike loop diuretics.

A type of bacteria that is resistant to methicillin, a penicillin antibiotic. It's commonly found in hospitals and can be difficult to treat.

If a patient has a history of anaphylaxis to penicillin, cephalosporins should be avoided.

Anaphylaxis is characterized by laryngeal edema (swelling in the throat), bronchoconstriction (narrowing of airways), and severe hypotension (low blood pressure).

MRSA is a bacteria that colonizes the skin and nostrils. It spreads through direct contact.

Preventing MRSA transmission involves good hand hygiene, covering infected sites, proper wound care, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces.

Bacteria develop resistance to cephalosporins through enzymes called beta-lactamases.

Cephalosporins are poorly absorbed from the gut, but distribute well throughout the body. They are eliminated by the kidneys.

Cephalosporins are widely used antibiotics with a broad spectrum of activity, meaning they can kill a wide variety of bacteria.

An antibiotic used to treat infections caused by anaerobic bacteria, mainly those located outside the central nervous system. Can be bacteriostatic or bactericidal, meaning it can either inhibit bacterial growth or kill them directly.

Clindamycin is known to cause Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infection, a severe form of diarrhea, and also carries the risk of pseudomembranous colitis, an inflammatory condition of the colon.

A class of bactericidal antibiotics that are effective against a narrow range of bacteria, primarily aerobic gram-negative bacilli. They are not absorbed orally and are administered through IV or eye drops.

Common side effects include ototoxicity (ear damage), nephrotoxicity (kidney damage), and hypersensitivity reactions.

Aminoglycosides can interact with other medications, including other antibiotics, muscle relaxants, and drugs that affect kidney function.

Furosemide can cause hypokalemia, hyponatremia, hypotension, ototoxicity, dehydration, hyperuricemia, and imbalances in calcium, magnesium.

Loop diuretics, such as furosemide, are the best choice for rapid fluid removal in cases like heart failure or cirrhosis.

Potassium-sparing diuretics are often used for patients with heart failure, as they help to conserve potassium.

These diuretics work in the ascending loop of Henle, where they block the reabsorption of sodium, chloride, and water, leading to increased excretion of these substances in the urine.

Thiazide diuretics act on the early distal convoluted tubule, inhibiting the reabsorption of sodium and chloride, promoting increased urine output.

These diuretics block the action of aldosterone in the distal nephron, leading to potassium retention and increased sodium excretion.

Osmotic diuretics increase urine flow by drawing water into the renal tubules. This effect is particularly useful for reducing intracranial or intraocular pressure.

Respiratory acidosis occurs when the body cannot remove enough carbon dioxide (CO2) from the blood, leading to an increase in acidity.

Respiratory alkalosis happens when the body eliminates too much carbon dioxide (CO2) from the blood.

Metabolic acidosis happens when the body produces too much acid, or when the kidneys cannot remove enough acid from the blood.

Metabolic alkalosis occurs when the body loses too much acid or gains too much base, leading to a decrease in blood acidity.