Pharmacology for Care of the Family
100 Actual Questions & Study
Guide | INSTANT PDF DOWNLOAD
All antibiotics in class share the same mechanism of action:
disruption of the bacterial cell wall.
Inhibition of cell wall synthesis - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-β-lactam
antibiotic MOA
,start treatment without cultures or prior to receiving the
results of a culture - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-Empiric Therapy
Critically ill patients receive (Fill in the Answer) after the first
set of cultures obtained; do not wait for results. - ✔✔ANSWER
✔✔-immediate empiric antibiotics
Directly kill bacteria: Agents include aminoglycosides, beta-
lactams, fluoroquinolones, metronidazole, most
antimycobacterial agents, streptogramins, and vancomycin.
preferred for immunocompromised patients such as those with
diabetes, HIV, or cancer and for those who have overwhelming
infections - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-Bactericidal antibiotics
inhibit bacterial proliferation while the host's immune system
does the killing. Agents include clindamycin, macrolides,
sulfonamides, and tetracyclines - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-
Bacteriostatic agents
Penicillins, Cephalosporins, Carbapenems, Monobactams -
✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-β-lactam Antibiotics
,Weaken bacterial cell wall by two actions:
(1) inhibition of transpeptidases
(2) disinhibition (activation) of autolysins. - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-
Penicillins MOA
Transpeptidases, Autolysins, and other bacterial enzymes are
collectively named as because antibiotic class must bind to
them to produce antibacterial effects. - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-PBPs
(Penicillin Binding Proteins)
two layers: the cytoplasmic membrane and a relatively thick
cell wall; penicillins are generally very active against these
organisms. - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-gram-positive bacteria
three layers: the cytoplasmic membrane, a relatively thin cell
wall, and an additional outer membrane; only certain penicillins
(e.g., ampicillin) are able to cross and reach penicillin binding
proteins (PBPs) - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-gram-negative bacteria
(1) narrow-spectrum penicillins that are penicillinase sensitive
, (2) narrow-spectrum penicillins that are penicillinase resistant
(antistaphylococcal penicillins)
(3) broad-spectrum penicillins (aminopenicillins)
(4) extended-spectrum penicillins (antipseudomonal
penicillins). - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-Four Major Groups of Penicillins
Penicillin G, Penicillin V - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-narrow-spectrum
penicillins: Penicillinase sensitive penicillins
Streptococci, Neisseria, anaerobes - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-narrow-
spectrum penicillinase sensitive susceptible pathogens
narrow-spectrum penicillins: penicillinase resistant penicillins -
✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-very narrow antimicrobial spectrum and are
used only against penicillinase-producing strains of
staphylococci (S. aureus and S. epidermidis).
Nafcillin, Oxacillin, Dicloxacillin - ✔✔ANSWER ✔✔-narrow-
spectrum penicillins: penicillinase resistant penicillins