Overview of Antibacterial Drug Classes and Their Effects

Antibacterial drugs

Medications that kill or inhibit bacterial growth.

Cell wall synthesis inhibitors

Drugs that prevent bacterial cell wall formation.

Protein synthesis inhibitors

Drugs that block bacterial protein production.

Metabolism inhibitors

Drugs that disrupt bacterial metabolic processes.

DNA synthesis inhibitors

Drugs that interfere with bacterial DNA replication.

Drug selection factors

Considerations for choosing antibacterial therapy.

Intended responses

Goals of antibacterial therapy include infection eradication.

WBC count

Normal range is 5000-10,000 cells/mm3.

Common side effects

Includes diarrhea and yeast infections.

Antibacterial-induced diarrhea

Diarrhea caused by disruption of normal flora.

Severe allergic reactions

Potentially life-threatening responses to antibacterial drugs.

Anaphylaxis

Severe allergic reaction causing difficulty breathing.

Pseudomembranous colitis

Severe colon inflammation from C. diff overgrowth.

Clostridioides difficile

Bacterium causing antibiotic-associated colitis.

Symptoms of colitis

Include watery diarrhea and abdominal cramps.

Drug allergies

Patient history consideration before administering drugs.

Diphenhydramine

Antihistamine used to manage allergic reactions.

Epinephrine

Medication for severe allergic reactions and anaphylaxis.

IV drug interactions

Potential complications with intravenous antibacterial medications.

Vital signs monitoring

Assessing temperature and status before drug therapy.

Bone marrow suppression

Antibacterial drugs may reduce WBC production.

Emergency cart placement

Keep close to patient room for quick access.

Drug effectiveness detection

Monitoring WBC and vital signs for therapy response.

IV Infusion

Intravenous delivery of fluids or medications.

Blood Return

Visible blood flow indicating IV patency.

Infusion Rate

Speed at which IV medication is administered.

Recommended Dosage

Standard dosage for common infections.

Pseudomembranous Colitis

Severe diarrhea caused by Clostridium difficile.

Anaphylactic Reaction

Severe allergic response requiring immediate intervention.

IV Access

Maintaining intravenous line for medication delivery.

Drug Alert

Notification regarding potential drug-related risks.

Action/Intervention Alert

Guidelines for responding to medical emergencies.

QSEN: Safety

Quality and Safety Education for Nurses principles.

Signs of Infection Resolution

Indicators that infection is improving.

Thrush

Yeast overgrowth causing white oral lesions.

Phlebitis Symptoms

Redness, pain, or hard veins at IV site.

Drug Resistance

Bacteria's ability to withstand antibiotic effects.

Dosage Timing

Frequency of medication intake over 24 hours.

Penicillin

First antibacterial drug derived from mold.

Cell Wall Synthesis Inhibitors

Drugs preventing bacterial cell wall formation.

Penicillin-Binding Proteins (PBPs)

Proteins maintaining bacterial cell wall structure.

Glycopeptide Inhibitors

Class of antibiotics including vancomycin.

Cephalosporins

Antibiotics structurally related to penicillin.

Carbapenems

Broad-spectrum antibiotics effective against resistant bacteria.

Monobactams

Beta-lactam antibiotics targeting specific bacteria.

Drug Administration Duration

Length of time to take prescribed medication.

Cell wall synthesis inhibitors

Drugs that disrupt bacterial cell wall formation.

Bricks

Components of the bacterial cell wall structure.

Mortar

Substance that binds bricks in the cell wall.

Autolysins

Enzymes that remove damaged cell wall components.

Leaky cell wall

Condition when autolysin activity exceeds wall-building.

Rapidly dividing bacteria

Bacteria that grow quickly, targeted by these drugs.

Common infections

Conditions treated include strep throat and UTIs.

Carbapenems

Powerful antibiotics for severe bacterial infections.

Glycopeptide inhibitors

Class of antibiotics including vancomycin for serious infections.

Cephalosporins

Cell wall synthesis inhibitors with multiple drug generations.

Drug generation

Stage of drug development for improved effectiveness.

Clavulanic acid

Inhibitor of β-lactamase, enhancing penicillin efficacy.

Cilastatin

Agent that prolongs imipenem's action in the body.

Side effects

Adverse reactions associated with cell wall inhibitors.

Allergic reactions

Immune responses that can occur with penicillin use.

Red man syndrome

Reaction causing rash and redness from glycopeptides.

Kidney function

Potentially reduced by carbapenems and glycopeptides.

Central nervous system changes

Confusion and seizures linked to carbapenem use.

Aminoglycosides

Class of antibiotics that increases kidney damage risk.

Drug allergies

Patient history consideration before administering antibiotics.

Penicillin allergy

Increased risk for cephalosporin allergy in affected patients.

Dosage variation

Dependent on infection severity and patient health.

Bacterial enzyme

β-lactamase, confers resistance to penicillin.

Effective combinations

Using agents to enhance the action of antibiotics.

Penicillin Allergy

Allergy to penicillin increases risk for cephalosporin allergy.

Cephalosporin Administration

Administer 1 hour before or 4 hours after iron.

Procaine Penicillin

Injectable penicillin containing a local anesthetic.

Seizure Threshold

Carbapenems may lower seizure threshold in patients.

Red Man Syndrome

Adverse effect of vancomycin causing facial redness.

Glycopeptide Administration

Infuse over at least 60 minutes to avoid adverse effects.

Monitoring Post-Dose

Check patients hourly after first oral dose.

Liquid Drug Storage

Refrigerate and tightly close liquid penicillin or cephalosporins.

Pregnancy Safety

Penicillins have low risk for birth defects during pregnancy.

Breastfeeding Considerations

Antibiotics can affect nursing infants, causing allergies.

Ototoxicity

Carbapenems and glycopeptides can cause hearing problems.

Nephrotoxicity

Higher doses of certain antibiotics may harm kidneys.

Tinnitus

Ringing in the ears; a sign of ototoxicity.

Protein Synthesis Inhibitors

Antibiotics that prevent bacterial protein production.

Aminoglycoside Mechanism

Enter bacteria via oxygen-dependent transport system.

Ribosome Binding

Aminoglycosides bind to ribosomes, blocking protein formation.

IV Penicillin Check

Verify injectable form is suitable for intravenous use.

Adverse Effects Monitoring

Monitor for low blood pressure and cardiac dysrhythmias.

Antacid Interaction

Cephalosporins poorly absorbed with antacids or iron.

Duration of Therapy

Antibiotics typically prescribed for 5 to 14 days.

General Care Needs

Follow specific precautions for antibacterial therapy.

Hourly Checks

Monitor patients closely after receiving IV antibiotics.

Drug Strength Preservation

Shake liquid antibiotics before measuring to ensure potency.

Macrolides

Antibiotics that inhibit bacterial protein synthesis.

Bactericidal

Kills bacteria at high dosages.

Bacteriostatic

Inhibits bacterial growth without killing.

Tetracyclines

Broad-spectrum antibiotics that inhibit protein synthesis.

Lincosamides

Antibiotics that slow protein synthesis in bacteria.

Oxazolidinones

Prevent mRNA translation into protein in bacteria.

Streptogramins

Combination antibiotics that inhibit protein synthesis.