Week 6 S - Antibiotics and Resistance

Flashcards covering key concepts from the Antibiotics & Resistance lecture, including mechanisms of action, resistance, and global initiatives.

Beta-lactams

A class of antibiotics including penicillins, carbapenems, cephalosporins, and monobactams that target the cell wall.

Fluoroquinolones

Fluorine-containing quinolones that target DNA gyrase and are essential for DNA replication and gene expression.

Ciprofloxacin

A fluoroquinolone antibiotic that inhibits the ligase activity of GyrA, leading to DNA damage and halted DNA replication.

Quinolone Resistance Determining Region (QRDR)

Region where mutations can occur that confer high-level resistance to fluoroquinolones by disrupting their binding.

Sulfonamides

Inhibitors of folic acid biosynthesis that interfere with the production of dihydrofolic acid.

Trimethoprim (TMP)

A dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor that blocks the production of tetrahydrofolic acid.

SMX-TMP combination

A combination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, used for broad-spectrum treatment, including UTIs and MRSA infections.

Nitrofurantoin

A first-line therapy for lower UTIs and cystitis, activated by nitroreductases inside a cell to target protein and DNA/RNA synthesis.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

The ability of a microorganism to withstand the effects of an antimicrobial agent.

One Health

An integrated approach to balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems.

Antimicrobial Stewardship

An approach to promote and monitor judicious use of antimicrobials to preserve their effectiveness.

Last resort antibiotics

Antibiotics, such as Meropenem, restricted for life-threatening infections due to multi-drug AMR, to prolong their effectiveness.

Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT)

The movement of AMR genes between strains and species, accelerating the spread of resistance.

WHO Priority List

List that identifies priority pathogens to inform research, policy, and pharmaceutical development based on factors like mortality, incidence, and resistance trends.

Beta-lactams

A class of antibiotics including penicillins, carbapenems, cephalosporins, and monobactams that target the cell wall.

Fluoroquinolones

Fluorine-containing quinolones that target DNA gyrase and are essential for DNA replication and gene expression.

Ciprofloxacin

A fluoroquinolone antibiotic that inhibits the ligase activity of GyrA, leading to DNA damage and halted DNA replication.

Quinolone Resistance Determining Region (QRDR)

Region where mutations can occur that confer high-level resistance to fluoroquinolones by disrupting their binding.

Sulfonamides

Inhibitors of folic acid biosynthesis that interfere with the production of dihydrofolic acid.

Trimethoprim (TMP)

A dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor that blocks the production of tetrahydrofolic acid.

SMX-TMP combination

A combination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, used for broad-spectrum treatment, including UTIs and MRSA infections.

Nitrofurantoin

A first-line therapy for lower UTIs and cystitis, activated by nitroreductases inside a cell to target protein and DNA/RNA synthesis.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

The ability of a microorganism to withstand the effects of an antimicrobial agent.

One Health

An integrated approach to balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems.

Antimicrobial Stewardship

An approach to promote and monitor judicious use of antimicrobials to preserve their effectiveness.

Last resort antibiotics

Antibiotics, such as Meropenem, restricted for life-threatening infections due to multi-drug AMR, to prolong their effectiveness.

Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT)

The movement of AMR genes between strains and species, accelerating the spread of resistance.

WHO Priority List

List that identifies priority pathogens to inform research, policy, and pharmaceutical development based on factors like mortality, incidence, and resistance trends.

Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC)

The lowest concentration of an antimicrobial that inhibits the visible growth of a microorganism after overnight incubation.

Breakpoint

The concentration of an antibiotic that defines whether a bacterium is susceptible or resistant to the antibiotic.

ESKAPE pathogens

A group of pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species) known for their ability to escape the effects of antibacterial drugs.