Antimicrobial Treatment: Antibiotics

These flashcards cover essential terminology and concepts related to antimicrobial treatment and antibiotic therapy in microbiology.

Antimicrobial Therapy

The administration of a drug to an infected person to destroy the infective agent without harming host cells.

Microbicidal

Referring to a substance that kills microorganisms.

Microbiostatic

Referring to a substance that inhibits the growth of microorganisms.

Chemotherapeutic Drug

Any chemical used in the treatment, relief, or prophylaxis of a disease.

Prophylaxis

Use of a drug to prevent imminent infection of a person at risk.

Antimicrobial Chemotherapy

The use of drugs to control infection.

Antimicrobials

An all-inclusive term for any antimicrobial drug, regardless of the microorganism it targets.

Antibiotics

Substances produced by microorganisms or created synthetically that can inhibit or destroy microorganisms.

Semisynthetic Drugs

Drugs that are chemically modified in the laboratory after being isolated from natural sources.

Synthetic Drugs

Drugs produced entirely by chemical reactions within a laboratory setting.

Narrow-Spectrum Antimicrobials

Effective against a limited range of microbial types.

Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobials

Effective against a wide variety of microbial types.

Penicillium notatum

A mold that produces penicillin, an antibiotic.

Streptomyces

A genus of bacteria known for producing antibiotics.

Selectivity

The degree to which a drug targets pathogens without affecting the host.

Zone of Inhibition

The area surrounding an antibiotic disk on an agar plate where bacteria cannot grow.

Kirby-Bauer Test

A technique used to measure the effectiveness of antibiotics on bacteria.

Antibiogram

Profile of antimicrobial sensitivity for a particular bacterium.

R: Resistant

Indicates that a microorganism is not affected by a particular antibiotic.

S: Susceptible

Indicates that a microorganism can be effectively inhibited or killed by an antibiotic.

Selective Toxicity

The ability of a drug to target microbial cells without harming host tissue.

Cell Wall Synthesis Inhibitors

Drugs that prevent bacteria from forming cell walls.

Protein Synthesis Inhibitors

Antimicrobials that interfere with bacterial ribosomes.

Folic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors

Drugs that stop microbial synthesis of folic acid, necessary for nucleic acid synthesis.

Cell Membrane Disruptors

Substances that interfere with the integrity of the microbial cell membrane.

Fluoroquinolones

A class of antibiotics that inhibit DNA unwinding enzymes.

Macrolides

A class of antibiotics that inhibit protein synthesis by binding to ribosomes.

Aminoglycosides

Antibiotics that cause misreading of mRNA in bacteria.

Tetracyclines

Broad-spectrum antibiotics that inhibit protein synthesis.

Carbapenems

Powerful antibiotics often used as a last resort against resistant bacteria.

Antimicrobial Resistance

The ability of microorganisms to withstand the effects of drugs designed to kill them.

Plasmids

Small DNA molecules that carry antibiotic resistance genes.

Beta-lactamase

Enzymes that provide resistance against beta-lactam antibiotics.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

A type of bacteria that is resistant to the antibiotic methicillin.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE)

Enterococcus bacteria that have developed resistance to vancomycin.

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs)

Enzymes produced by some bacteria that make them resistant to a wide variety of beta-lactam antibiotics.

Gene Transfer

The movement of genetic material between organisms, which can spread antibiotic resistance.

Bacteriophage Therapy

Using bacteriophages to treat bacterial infections.

Fecal Transplantation

Transferring fecal matter from a healthy donor to restore normal intestinal flora.

Antibiotic Stewardship

Efforts to use antibiotics responsibly to reduce resistance.

Synergistic Effect

When two drugs work together to enhance effectiveness.

In vitro

Tests performed outside a living organism, such as in a test tube.

In vivo

Tests performed within a living organism.

Common Side Effects of Antibiotics

Involving gastrointestinal disruption and potential allergic reactions.

Culture and Sensitivity Testing

A method to determine the suitability of antibiotics for treating a specific infection.

Chemical Modifications

Altering the structure of natural antibiotics to create more effective semisynthetic drugs.

Natural Selection and Resistance

The process through which drug-resistant bacteria proliferate when exposed to antibiotics.

Cationic Peptides

Antimicrobial peptides that are positively charged and disrupt microbial membranes.

Resistance Mechanisms

Strategies bacteria use to survive despite the presence of antibiotics.

Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance

The adaptation of bacteria over time to survive exposure to antibiotics.

Narrow vs. Broad Spectrum Drugs

Narrow spectrum drugs target specific microbes, while broad-spectrum drugs target a wide array.

Cell Membrane Targeting Drugs

Antibiotics that interact with the bacterial membrane, causing leakage of important contents.

Drug Interaction

How different drugs affect each other's actions within the body.

Conjugation

A process where bacteria transfer DNA via direct contact, often spreading resistance.

Transformation

The uptake of naked DNA by bacteria from their surroundings.

Transduction

The transfer of bacterial DNA from one bacterium to another via a bacteriophage.

Quorum Sensing

The communication between bacterial cells to coordinate behavior based on cell density.