Ch 14.1 and 14.2

• Why do antibiotics exist in nature?

  because competition exists

  - gives you a competitive edge
• what does producing antibiotics require?

  time, material, energy and genetic material
• Paul Ehrlich

  wanted to create a chemical compound that was capable of killing disease-causing organisms
• what did Paul Ehrlich discover?

  salvarsan compound 606 (arsenic containing compound), which was mainly used to treat syphilis

  - very dangerous and painful to be treated with
• What is prontosil?

  a dye that was a synthetic antimicrobial compound

  - the active ingredient was sulfanilamide
• Who is Alexander Fleming, and how did he contribute to modern medicine?

  He is the man who discovered penicillin in 1920
• What type of organism produces Penicillin?

  penicillium fungi
• Which group of bacteria are responsible for the majority of antibiotics in production today?

  Actinomycetes- soil microorganisms
• consideration 1 for choosing treatment method for an infectious disease

  bactericidal vs bacteriostatic
• consideration 2 for choosing treatment method for an infectious disease

  spectrum of activity
• consideration 3 for choosing treatment method for an infectious disease

  dosage and route of administration
• consideration 4 for choosing treatment method for an infectious disease

  side effects and potential interactions
• Bacteriostatic

  inhibits growth of bacteria
• Bacteriocidal

  kills bacteria
• what needs to be taken into consideration when deciding between a bacteriostatic and bactericidal antibiotic?

  both the severity of the infection and immune status need to be considered
• Why might a bacteriostatic antibiotic be preferred over bactericidal?

  if a patient has a stronger immune system, they might be able to conquer the infectious agent if a bacteriostatic agent is used to keep growth in check
• why would bactericidal be preferred?

  if a patient is immunocompromised or in really bad condition
• narrow spectrum antibiotics

  only effective against one group of organisms (ex. Penicillin is only effective against streptococci)
• broad spectrum antibiotics

  effective against a number of organism groups (ex. Cefepime is effective against gram negative cocci and bacilli as well as gram positive cocci)
• What are the potential consequences of choosing a broad-spectrum antibiotic over a narrow-spectrum antibiotic?

  it can target the normal microbiota, increasing the risk of super infection
• What is a superinfection and why does it occur?

  when the antibacterial intended for the preexisting infection kills the protective microbiota, causes a secondary infection
• Different routes of drug administration

  oral, IV, IM (intramuscular)
• why might oral administration be preferred?

  convenient and easy
• why might IV or IM administration be preferred?

  if a pt can't currently take oral medicine (bc of vomiting or intubation) and a drug cant be absorbed in the GI tract
• How does the route of administration affect the amount of the antibiotic present in the patients plasma?

  
• goal for drug dosage

  make it effective but minimize side effects
• Synergestic drug interaction

  beneficial
• Antagonistic drug interaction

  harmful