Anti-Bacterial Medications Overview

Flashcards covering key concepts and terminology related to anti-bacterial medications, their types, uses, and mechanisms of action.

Penicillins

A group of antibiotics including Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, and Penicillin, primarily used to treat gram positive and some gram negative bacterial infections.

Macrolides

Antibiotics such as Erythromycins, Zithromax, and Biaxin that treat pertussis, diphtheria, and legionnaires disease along with many infections treated by Penicillins.

Sulfa drugs

A group of medications like Sulfatrim and Bactrim used to treat UTIs, upper respiratory infections, pneumonia, and otitis media.

Cephalosporins

Antibiotics including Keflex, Ancef, and Ceclor that treat both gram positive and negative bacteria for infections like UTI and respiratory issues.

Tetracycline

Broad spectrum antibiotics such as Doxycycline, Tetracycline, and Minocycline used for acne, bronchitis, syphilis, and Lyme disease.

Fluoroquinolones

Broad-spectrum antibiotics like Cipro and Levaquin used for severe upper respiratory infections and certain STDs.

Aminoglycosides

Antibiotics including Gentamicin, Tobramycin, and Amikacin that are administered IV due to poor oral absorption, used for serious infections.

Glycopeptide

An antibiotic such as Vancomycin used to treat penicillin-resistant pneumonias and MRSA.

Streptogramin

Antibiotic represented by Synercid, designed to treat infections resistant to vancomycin.

Mechanism of Action

The way antibiotics work by killing or slowing bacteria through disruption of cell wall, interference with cell membrane function, inhibition of microbial DNA, or disruption of metabolic functions.