Antimicrobial Drugs and Resistance

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions related to antimicrobial drugs, their mechanisms, drug resistance, and important factors in treatment selection.

Narrow-Spectrum Antibiotics

Drugs effective on a small range of cell types, e.g., bacitracin acts on gram-positive bacteria.

Medium-Spectrum Antibiotics

Antibiotics that are effective on both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, but not all types.

Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics

Drugs that work on most gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including rickettsias and mycoplasmas, e.g., Tetracycline.

Inhibition of cell wall synthesis

Mechanism of antibiotic action exemplified by penicillins and cephalosporins.

Polymyxins

Antibiotics that damage bacterial cell membranes, effective against gram-negative bacteria.

Fluoroquinolones

Antibiotics that inhibit DNA topoisomerase, having a broad spectrum of activity.

Antifungal drugs

Medications like azoles and macrolide polyenes that target fungal cell membranes.

Quinine

An antimalarial drug, historically used but no longer recommended due to toxicity.

Amoebicides

Drugs like Metronidazole that inhibit nucleic acid synthesis, used to treat certain infections.

Anthelminthic Drugs

Medications that treat parasitic worm infections, e.g., Mebendazole and Thiabendazole.

Drug Resistance Mechanisms

Strategies microbes use to evade the effects of antibiotics, such as reducing drug permeability.

Patient Compliance

Human factor contributing to antibiotic resistance, referring to how well patients follow treatment regimens.

The Kirby-Bauer Procedure

A test used to determine the susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics.

Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC)

The smallest concentration of a drug that inhibits the growth of a microorganism.

Therapeutic Index (TI)

The ratio of the toxic dose of a drug to its minimum effective dose, indicating safety.

Prebiotics

Substances that prepare the gut for beneficial bacteria.

Probiotics

Live bacteria that are introduced into the gut to promote health.