The Anti-Infectives

Drugs designed to target invading organisms that have caused an infection.

Goal is to interfere with normal function of invading organism. "Make their little lives miserable." 4 ways: 1. Membrane disruption 2. Blocking needed nutrients 3. DNA synthesis alteration 4. RNA alteration

Goal is to reduce population of "bug" to level that host's immune system can take care of the infection.

Ability of infective agent to adapt to antibiotic so that the drug is no longer affective.

1. Identification of the Pathogen: done by culturing a tissue sample from the infected area. 2. Sensitivity of the Pathogen: in many cases sensitivity testing is necessary on the cultured microbes to evaluate bacteria and determine which drugs are capable of controlling particular microorganisms. 3. Combination Therapy: Utilizing two or more drugs for a more effective treatment of the infection.

The use of anti-infectives as means of preventing an infection. Examples are use of a drug before traveling, pre-operative use, known cardiac valve disease, and invasive treatment of procedures (dental work.)

Kidney damage, gastrointestinal toxicity, neurotoxicity, hypersensitivity reactions, superinfections.

Bactericidal is when anti-infectives are so active against the infective microorganisms that they actually cause the death of the cells they effect. Bacteriostatic is when they interfere with the ability of the cells to reproduce.

Narrow spectrum are drugs who are selective in what they are effective against. They are only effective against a few microbes. Other drugs interfere in biochemical reactions in many different kinds of organisms, making them useful in treatment of a wide variety of infections.

Sample of the bacteria.

Used especially of drugs or muscles that work together so the total effect is greater than the sum of the two (or more).

Respiratory, GI and the skin.

Gram-positive bactera are those whos cell wall retains a stain known as Gram's stain or resists decolorization with alcohol ruging culture and sensitivity. Gram-negative is bacteria whose cell wall loses stain or are decolorized by alcohol.

Aerobic bacteria depends on Oxygen while Anaerobic does not use oxygen.

A "C&S" is a diagnostic lab procedure used to identify the type of bacteria and to determine which antibiotics can successfully fight an infection.