Bio 251 -- Chapter 12 Objectives

  1. What is an antibiotic? Synthetic antimicrobic?
  2. What is the primary aim of anti-infective therapy?
  3. Where do antibiotics originate from?
  4. What are four modes of action of antimicrobial drugs?
  5. Describe how drug resistant microbes form.
  6. Discuss the following antibiotic groups: penicillins, cephalosporins, new beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, erythromycins, rifampin, bacillins
  7. Discuss the following synthetic antimicrobics: sulfa drugs, isoniazid
  8. Discuss the following anti-fungal drugs: amphotericin B, nystatin
  9. Discuss the following anti-parasitic drugs: quinine, metronidazole, mebendazoles
  10. Discuss the following anti-viral drugs: acyclovir, ribavirin, azidothymidine, interferon
  11. Discuss major side-effects of antimicrobial drugs.
  12. Describe how drugs are properly chosen for antimicrobial treatment, including drug susceptibility tests (observation of zones of inhibition and determination of MIC) and use of the therapeutic index and other factors.