Antimicrobial Drugs

These flashcards cover the key terms and concepts related to antimicrobial drugs, their mechanisms of action, classifications, and considerations in their use.

Antimicrobial Drugs

Drugs that inhibit the growth of or kill microorganisms.

Microbicidal

Agents that kill microorganisms.

Microbiostatic

Agents that reversibly inhibit the growth of microorganisms.

Selective Toxicity

The ability to kill pathogens without harming the host.

Broad Spectrum

Effective against a wide variety of microorganisms.

Narrow Spectrum

Effective against a limited range of organisms, preserving normal flora.

Therapeutic Index

The ratio of the toxic dose to the therapeutic dose of a drug.

Resistance Mechanism

Methods by which microorganisms evade the effects of antimicrobial drugs.

Kirby-Bauer Method

A method used to measure the effectiveness of an antibiotic.

Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC)

The lowest concentration of antibiotic that inhibits visible growth of a microorganism.

Bacteriostatic

Agents that prevent the growth of bacteria.

Bactericidal

Agents that kill bacteria.

Genetic Transfer

Mechanisms such as conjugation, transformation, and transduction that aid in the spread of antibiotic resistance.

Penicillins

A group of antibiotics derived from Penicillium fungi.

Antifungal Agents

Drugs that treat fungal infections.

Antiviral Agents

Drugs that inhibit viral infections.

Antiparasitic Agents

Drugs used to treat infections caused by protozoa and helminths.

L-form

A variant of bacteria that lacks a cell wall, often resistant to certain antibiotics.

Side Effects

Adverse reactions that may occur following administration of drugs.

Echinocandins

A class of antifungal agents used to treat systemic infections.

Quinolones

Broad-spectrum synthetic antibiotics that are effective against various bacterial infections.

Flucytosine

An antifungal drug used in systemic infections and cutaneous mycoses.