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Narrow spectrum antibiotics

Target specific bacteria types when the exact pathogen is known.

Broad spectrum antibiotics

Target a wide variety of bacteria (both gram-positive and gram-negative) used when bacteria are not yet identified.

Bactericidal

Directly kill bacteria.

Bacteriostatic

Prevent bacterial growth without directly killing bacteria.

MIC

Minimum inhibitory concentration, the lowest concentration of an antibiotic that prevents visible growth of a bacterium.

MBC

Minimum bactericidal concentration, the lowest concentration of an antibiotic that kills 99.9% of bacteria.

Combination therapy

The use of more than one drug to enhance treatment effectiveness.

Potentiating effect

One drug enhances the effectiveness of another drug.

Antagonistic effect

Combined drugs are less effective than when used separately.

Additive effect

The combined effect of two drugs equals the sum of their individual effects.

Prophylaxis

Preventive medication use to prevent infections before they occur.

Cephalosporins

Antibiotics effective against a wide range of bacteria, classified into five generations.

Vancomycin

An antibiotic effective against C. diff, staph, and MRSA infections.

Tetracyclines

A class of antibiotics that prevent protein synthesis; contraindicated in children and pregnant women.

Macrolides

Antibiotics that are bacteriostatic at lower doses and bactericidal at higher doses.

Aminoglycosides

Bactericidal antibiotics effective for gram-negative bacteria, requiring peak and trough level monitoring.

NSAIDs

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that reduce fever, relieve pain, and prevent blood clots.

Drug Half-Life

The time it takes for the concentration of a drug in the bloodstream to reduce to half its original value.

Agonist drugs

Bind to receptors and activate them, producing the full biological response.

Partial agonist drugs

Bind to receptors but produce a weaker response than full agonists.

Antagonist drugs

Bind to receptors but block activation by other substances.

Contraindications

Conditions under which a medication should not be used due to potential harm.

Precautions

Conditions that require careful monitoring when using a medication, not a complete prohibition.

Hepatotoxicity

Liver damage caused by certain medications.

Nephrotoxicity

Kidney damage caused by certain medications.

Hypersensitivity reaction

Immune response triggered by exposure to medications causing symptoms such as itching and rashes.

Anaphylaxis

A life-threatening allergic reaction requiring immediate medical attention.

FDA Pregnancy Drug Category A

Safest category; no risk shown in studies.

FDA Pregnancy Drug Category X

Proven risk in animals and humans; risks outweigh benefits.

Absorption

How a drug enters the bloodstream from its site of administration.

Distribution

The reversible movement of a drug from the bloodstream into the interstitial and intracellular fluids.

Metabolism

The biochemical alteration of drugs into more excretable forms, primarily in the liver.

Excretion

The irreversible elimination of a drug from the body, primarily through the kidneys.

Therapeutic Index

A measure of a drug's safety, representing the ratio between the toxic dose and the effective dose.