Antimicrobial Pharmacology Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiprotozoal, and antihelminthic drugs along with their mechanisms, target organisms, side effects, and routes of administration.

Penicillin

Cell wall synthesis inhibitor containing a beta-lactam ring. Ends in suffix -cillin. Main concerns include patient allergies and wide-spread occurrence of resistant strains.

Augmentin (Amoxcillin + Clavulanate)

Cell wall synthesis inhibitor combination that inhibits bacterial beta-lactamase.

Amoxicillin

Cell wall synthesis inhibitor that does not bind to food.

Ampicillin

Cell wall synthesis inhibitor effective against gonorrhea.

Oxacillin

Cell wall synthesis inhibitor that provides steric hindrance to block beta-lactamases.

Methicillin

Cell wall synthesis inhibitor that is not prescribed in the US.

Cephalosporin

Cell wall synthesis inhibitor class. Includes 3rd generation Ceftriaxone (Brand Rocephin, can cross blood-brain barrier) and 5th generation Ceftaroline (combats MRSA/ORSA strains).

Carbapenems

Bacterial cell wall construction inhibitors administered via injection and ending in suffix -penem; reserved to treat multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Aztreonam (monobactam)

Monobactam cell wall construction inhibitor (brand name Aztreonam) effective against Gram negative bacteria.

Vancomycin (glycopeptide)

Glycopeptide cell wall synthesis inhibitor (lacks beta-lactam ring); preferred treatment for Clostridium difficile. Resistant strains include VRSA and VRE. Can cause Red Man Syndrome as an adverse reaction after one dose.

Bacitracin

Cell wall synthesis inhibitor (lacks beta-lactam ring) administered topically; combined with Polymixin B and Neomycin to make Neosporin.

Isoniazid

Cell wall synthesis inhibitor (lacks beta-lactam ring) used with Rifampin to treat TB; interferes with mycolic acid in the genus Mycobacterium.

Metronidazole (Flagyl)

Nucleic acid inhibitor with brand name Flagyl; treats bacterial or protozoal infections in the digestive system; #2 drug to treat infection with C. difficile.

Ciprofloxacin

Nucleic acid inhibitor carrying a Black box warning for severe side effects like nerve damage, tendonitis, and tendon rupture; treats Mycobacterium and Pseudomonas infections.

Levofloxacin

Nucleic acid inhibitor carrying a Black box warning; used to treat Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.

Rifampin

Nucleic acid inhibitor used with Isoniazid to treat TB. Causes orange mucus as a side effect. Cannot be taken with oral contraceptives, anticoagulants, or certain blood pressure medications, and inhibits digoxin.

Sulfamides ("sulfa")

Folic acid synthesis inhibitors that competitively inhibit folic acid production; among the most common antibiotics to cause allergies.

Bactrim

Folic acid synthesis inhibitor consisting of a combination of sulfa + trimethoprim.

Erythromycin

Macrolide antibiotic targeting ribosomes; effective at preventing STIs from infecting newborn's eyes.

Clarithromycin

Ribosome-targeting antibiotic belonging to the Macrolide group.

Azithromycin

Macrolide antibiotic targeting ribosomes; key benefit over other macrolides is having a long half-life.

Clindamycin (lincosamide)

Lincosamide antibiotic targeting ribosomes; effective against MRSA; known to increase risk for C. diff infection.

Chloramphenicol (phenicol)

Phenicol antibiotic targeting ribosomes; reserved to treat Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria; can cross the Blood Brain Barrier. Side effects include bone marrow toxicity and aplastic anemia.

Tetracycline

Broad-spectrum ribosome inhibitor; increases risk of C. difficile; not prescribed to kids due to effects on bones and teeth. Another example in this class is doxycycline.

Neomycin

Aminoglycoside antibiotic targeting ribosomes; administered topically.

Tobramycin

Aminoglycoside antibiotic targeting ribosomes; administered via inhalation and intravenous (IV) routes.

Streptomycin

Aminoglycoside antibiotic targeting ribosomes administered IV; side effects include hearing loss and nephrotoxicity.

Gentamicin

Aminoglycoside antibiotic targeting ribosomes administered IV; side effects include hearing loss and nephrotoxicity.

Polymyxin B

Narrow-spectrum antibiotic targeting the plasma membrane; administered mostly topically or IV for MDR.

Colistin

Narrow-spectrum antibiotic targeting the plasma membrane; administered mostly topically or IV for MDR.

Rimantadine

Antiviral targeting viral uncoating in Influenza (no longer used); prevents the virus from removing its outer layer so it cannot release its RNA into the host cell.

Acyclovir & Valacyclovir

DNA nucleotide analogs targeting viral replication and assembly; disrupt DNA synthesis and stop replication in viruses such as Herpes.

AZT

RNA nucleotide analog targeting viral replication and assembly; treats HIV.

Remdesivir

RNA nucleotide analog targeting viral replication and assembly; treats COVID.

Ribavirin

RNA nucleotide analog targeting viral replication and assembly; treats HIV, RSV, and Herpes.

Reverse transcriptase inhibitor

Antiviral drug class targeting viral replication and assembly; inhibits reverse transcriptase so the virus cannot copy its genome. Used to treat HIV.

Xofluza

Antiviral drug targeting viral replication and assembly; treats Influenza.

Sofosbuvir

Antiviral drug targeting viral replication and assembly; treats Hepatitis C.

Paxlovid

Antiviral drug targeting viral release; treats COVID.

Ritonavir

Antiviral drug targeting viral release; treats HIV.

Tamiflu

Antiviral drug targeting viral release; treats Influenza by inhibiting the enzyme neuraminidase.

Echinocandins

Fungistatic antifungals targeting the fungal cell wall via the enzyme that makes beta-flucan.

Fluconazole & ketoconazole

Fungistatic Azoles targeting plasma membrane ergosterol by inhibiting ergosterol-building enzymes; treat athlete's foot, ringworm, and yeast infection.

Terbinafine & naftifine

Fungistatic Allylamines targeting ergosterol in plasma membranes; treat athlete's foot, ringworm, and yeast infection.

Nystatin

Fungicidal Polyene administered topically; targets ergosterol in plasma membranes directly.

Amphotericin B

Fungicidal Polyene reserved for life-threatening systemic fungal infections.

Flucytosine

Antifungal targeting nucleic acids; gets converted to a nucleic acid analog to block DNA and RNA synthesis; used in combination with Amphotericin B.

Chloroquine, Hydroxychloroquine, Quinine

Antimalarial antiprotozoal drugs targeting the genus Plasmodium.

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole

Nonmalarial antiprotozoal drug combination abbreviated as TMO/SMX.

Albendazole and Mebendazole

Broad-spectrum antihelminthic drugs that interfere with glucose uptake in worms.

Ivermectin

Antihelminthic drug that changes membrane permeability of worms at the larvae life stage.

Praziquantel

Antihelminthic drug that paralyzes worms, which are then expelled in feces of the host.