D398 Section 3: Effects of
Medications and Supplements on
the Body
Lesson 1: Anti-Infective Drugs
Lesson 1.1 – Antibiotics
Key Terms
Antibiotics: drugs used to treat infections caused by bacteria
Bactericidal: able to kill bacteria
Bacteriostatic: able to stop or reduce the growth of bacteria
Regimen: a specific plan or schedule for a medication
Immunocompromised: having a weakened immune system
Penicillins and Cephalosporins
Examples: Amoxicillin, Piperacillin
Uses: Treat bacterial infections
Cautions: Patients should be encouraged to take them with food if nausea
occurs. If a patient has a known allergy to penicillin, there is a small chance
that the patient will also be allergic to cephalosporins.
Macrolides
Examples: Azithromycin, Clarithromycin, Erythromycin
Uses: treat upper respiratory infections, ear infections, and sexually
transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia.
Side Effects: nausea, diarrhea, and occasionally rashes.
Fluoroquinolones
Examples: Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, Moxifloxacin
Uses: including urinary tract infections, lower respiratory tract infections,
bone and joint infections, and gonorrhea.
Side Effects – Mild: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache,
dizziness, irritability, and anxiety.
Side Effects – Serious: seizures, severe sunburn, and cartilage or tendon
, damage. Anyone taking quinolone should consume a lot of water to prevent
dehydration.
Aminoglycosides
Examples: Gentamicin, Amikacin
Uses: reserved for more serious infections, including endocarditis (infection
of the heart), respiratory infections, and gastrointestinal infections.
Side Effects: kidney damage and respiratory paralysis
Tetracyclines
Examples: Tetracycline, Doxycycline
Cautions: sensitivity to sunlight, discoloration of developing teeth, and renal
and liver damage.
Carbapenems
Examples: Imipenem, Meropenem
Uses: pneumonia, febrile neutropenia, intra-abdominal infections, and
diabetic foot infections.
Clindamycin
Uses: bacterial infections, including serious respiratory tract infections,
infections of the bones, and a serious type of pneumonia associated with
AIDS called pneumocystis jirovecii. Dental procedures as an alternative for
patients with penicillin allergies.
Metronidazole
Uses: treat acne, bacterial vaginosis, or the STI trichomonas.
Side Effects: urine may change color and should avoid drinking alcohol to
prevent a bad reaction.
Vancomycin
Uses: serious infections when other antibiotics are ineffective. Serious
infections including C. diff, a stomach infection that causes diarrhea and
inflammation of the stomach lining. It is also administered through an IV to
treat life-threatening infections, including heart infections.
Lesson 1.2 – Antivirals
Key Terms
Antivirals: drugs that stop a virus's replication and development
Medications and Supplements on
the Body
Lesson 1: Anti-Infective Drugs
Lesson 1.1 – Antibiotics
Key Terms
Antibiotics: drugs used to treat infections caused by bacteria
Bactericidal: able to kill bacteria
Bacteriostatic: able to stop or reduce the growth of bacteria
Regimen: a specific plan or schedule for a medication
Immunocompromised: having a weakened immune system
Penicillins and Cephalosporins
Examples: Amoxicillin, Piperacillin
Uses: Treat bacterial infections
Cautions: Patients should be encouraged to take them with food if nausea
occurs. If a patient has a known allergy to penicillin, there is a small chance
that the patient will also be allergic to cephalosporins.
Macrolides
Examples: Azithromycin, Clarithromycin, Erythromycin
Uses: treat upper respiratory infections, ear infections, and sexually
transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia.
Side Effects: nausea, diarrhea, and occasionally rashes.
Fluoroquinolones
Examples: Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, Moxifloxacin
Uses: including urinary tract infections, lower respiratory tract infections,
bone and joint infections, and gonorrhea.
Side Effects – Mild: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache,
dizziness, irritability, and anxiety.
Side Effects – Serious: seizures, severe sunburn, and cartilage or tendon
, damage. Anyone taking quinolone should consume a lot of water to prevent
dehydration.
Aminoglycosides
Examples: Gentamicin, Amikacin
Uses: reserved for more serious infections, including endocarditis (infection
of the heart), respiratory infections, and gastrointestinal infections.
Side Effects: kidney damage and respiratory paralysis
Tetracyclines
Examples: Tetracycline, Doxycycline
Cautions: sensitivity to sunlight, discoloration of developing teeth, and renal
and liver damage.
Carbapenems
Examples: Imipenem, Meropenem
Uses: pneumonia, febrile neutropenia, intra-abdominal infections, and
diabetic foot infections.
Clindamycin
Uses: bacterial infections, including serious respiratory tract infections,
infections of the bones, and a serious type of pneumonia associated with
AIDS called pneumocystis jirovecii. Dental procedures as an alternative for
patients with penicillin allergies.
Metronidazole
Uses: treat acne, bacterial vaginosis, or the STI trichomonas.
Side Effects: urine may change color and should avoid drinking alcohol to
prevent a bad reaction.
Vancomycin
Uses: serious infections when other antibiotics are ineffective. Serious
infections including C. diff, a stomach infection that causes diarrhea and
inflammation of the stomach lining. It is also administered through an IV to
treat life-threatening infections, including heart infections.
Lesson 1.2 – Antivirals
Key Terms
Antivirals: drugs that stop a virus's replication and development
