ANTIBIOTICS AND ANTIVIRALS

what are antibiotics?

drugs that are used to fight infections of microorganisms, especially bacteria

when can antibiotics not be used?

viruses

why do we use different antibiotics?

because they are only effective for certain types of bacterial infection

examples of common antibiotics:

streptomycin, erythromycin, neomycin, tetracycline, vancomycin

• these interfere with protein synthesis in the cells

cephalosporin interferes with the synthesis of the cell wall

what are the two types of antibiotics

1. bactericidal antibiotics

2. bacteriostatic antibiotics

how do bactericidal antibiotics work?

• kill the bacteria by changing the structure of the cell wall or cell membrane

• or by disrupting the action of essential enzymes

how do bacteriostatic antibiotics work?

• stop bacteria from reproducing, usually by disrupting protein synthesis

what are broad spectrum antibiotics?

they affect a wide range of different types of bacteria

what are narrow spectrum antibiotics?

antibiotics that are only effective against specific types of bacteria

what is the problem with the widespread use of antibiotics?

bacteria have evolved and become resistant to antibiotics (some are resistant to most or all types of antibiotics)

what is multiple drug resistance?

when a bacteria is resistant to most or all types of antibiotics

how has multiple drug resistance been worsened

• by the overuse of antibiotics

• doctors were prescribing antibiotics to prevent rather than treat infection

how do we slow/stop multiple drug resistance of bacteria?

• though the prevention of misuse and abuse of antibiotics

what are antiviral drugs used for?

treating viral infections

why are viruses difficult to treat?

1. virus enters the host cell

2. the virus DNA or RNA cells induce the cell to produce new virus particles

   • because the host cell produces the new virus particles, any drug that interferes with virus replication is likely to be toxic to the host

how do antivirals work?

• they inhibit the development of the virus

what are some examples of antiviral drugs?

tamiflu, relenza (for influenza), interferons (for hepatitis B and C)