Antimicrobial Agents
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Antimicrobial Agents
Antimicrobial agents are essential components in the treatment of various bacterial infections as they help to kill or prevent the growth of microbes such as bacteria, fungi, and protozoans. Prior to the discovery of antimicrobial agents, treatment options for patients with bacterial infections were limited. For many patients, treatment often resulted in the amputation of limbs or even death. Today, treatment options for bacterial infections typically have a more positive prognosis. Due to the various types of infections presented in patients, it is essential to be able to identify the underlying cause of the infection—whether bacterial or viral—before recommending drug treatments. This will help you identify whether or not an antimicrobial agent would be appropriate and which specific agent would target the infection. In this Assignment, you consider the appropriate use of antimicrobial agents for infections.
To prepare:
• Review this week’s media presentation on principles of antimicrobial therapy, as well as Chapter 8 of the Arcangelo and Peterson text.
• Consider the categories of antimicrobial agents.
• Think about differences between viral and bacterial infections.
• Reflect on why proper identification of the infection is key to selecting the proper antimicrobial agent.
To complete this Assignment Paper:
Write a 2-3 page paper that addresses the following:
1) Describe the categories of antimicrobial agents.
2) Describe differences between viral and bacterial infections.
3) Explain why proper identification of viral and bacterial infections is key to selecting the proper antimicrobial agent.
Readings/Recommended References (you may choose your own textbook or article for this paper
• Arcangelo, V. P., & Peterson, A. M. (Eds.). (2013). Pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice: A practical approach (3rd ed.). Ambler, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
o Chapter 8, “Principles of Antimicrobial Therapy” (pp. 96–117)
This chapter covers factors that impact the selection of an antimicrobial treatment regimen. It also examines the clinical uses, adverse events, and drug interactions of various antimicrobial agents such as penicillin.
o Chapter 12, “Fungal Infections of the Skin” (pp. 141–149)
this chapter explores the pathophysiology of several fungal infections of the skin as well as related drug treatments and examines the importance of patient education when managing these infections.
o Chapter 14, “Bacterial Infections of the Skin” (pp. 158–172)
this chapter begins by examining causes of bacterial infections. It then explores the importance of selecting an appropriate agent for treating bacterial infections.
• Drugs.com. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.drugs.com/
this website presents a comprehensive review of prescription and over-the-counter drugs including information on common uses and potential side effects. It also provides updates relating to new drugs on the market, support from health professionals, and a drug-drug interactions checker.
SAMPLE ANSWER
Antimicrobial Agents
Antimicrobial agents are very crucial in treatment of various bacterial infections as they help to kill and prevent the growth of microbes such as bacteria, fungi, and protozoans. Treatment options for patients with bacterial infections were minimal prior to the discovery of antimicrobial agents. Before recommending a drug, a medical practitioner should identify the underlying cause of the infection. The following discussion will indulge to review varied categories of antimicrobial agents as well as providing differences between viral and bacterial infections. In conclusion, the paper will explain why proper identification of viral and bacterial infections is the key to selecting the proper antimicrobial agent.
There are varied categories of antimicrobial agents, including antibacterial drugs, antiviral agents, antifungal agents, and anti-parasitic drugs. In other words, the antimicrobial agents can be viewed through the mirror of the kind of inhibition they make. There is inhibition of cell wall synthesis, mostly attributed to antibacterial drugs, which target cells walls to selectively kill or inhibit bacterial organisms. Examples of antibacterial drugs include penicillin and bacitracin (Arcangelo & Peterson, 2013). Another kind of inhibition is inhibition of cell membrane mostly by antiviral agents, which are applied topically. Antiviral agents are used to protect cell membrane from allowing bacteria and viruses to enter these producers of intra- and extracellular fluids. Examples of antivirals include polymixin B and colistin (Drugs.com, 2012). They can also cause a cell to adapt the virus and start living with it for its survival. Antifungal agents, on the other hand, inhibit fungal cell division, for instance, polynes and azoles. Anti-parasitic agents are inhibitors of protein synthesis where they disrupt the normal cellular metabolism of parasites, and consequently lead to their death or inhibit their growth and multiplication.
In simpler terms, bacterial infections are caused by bacteria and these infections comprise of strep throat or urinary tract infections. Thormar (2011) argues that these kind of infections can be treated by antibiotics to fight off the bacteria. Most bacterial infections can become more complicated and severe. Illness like sepsis and bacterial meningitis are more of concern. Bacterial infections have the tendencies to result from secondary infections. For instance, sinus can result to sinusitis (Vaishnavi, 2013). Viral infections, on the other hand, are those infections caused by viruses and include chicken pox or common cold. Antibiotics or anti-viral medications cannot suppress entirely the effects of a virus on a patient suffering from common cold (Drugs.com, 2012). The appropriate medium to address viral infections is through vaccinations, especially to young ones. Over the counter drugs that can relieve the symptoms of a particular viral infection can also be recommended until the virus is able to run its course.
According to Vaishnavi (2013), proper identification of viral and bacterial infections is the key to selecting proper antimicrobial agent as it gives information about particular bacteria that has resistance to antibiotics. This is extended to the benefit that a medical practitioner is able to identify and treat a condition that has resulted from a viral infection to bacterial infection such as sinus. This is geared towards preventing the use of the right drug on the wrong condition. Another importance is that proper identification of viral and bacterial infections gives information in determining antimicrobial susceptibility of ineffective organisms (Thormar, 2011). This is because after a pathogen is cultured, its susceptibility to specific antibiotics serves as a guide in choosing antimicrobial therapy. For instance, some pathogens such as Streptococcus pyogenes and Neisseria have predictable pattern to certain antibiotics (Drugs.com, 2012). Most crucially, identification of viral and bacterial infection is important in determining the cost of therapy. Although several drugs may show similar efficacy in treating an infection, they can vary widely in cost.
In summary, there are different categories of antimicrobial infections. They work differently according to the kind of infection diagnosed. Identification of viral and bacterial infections will make a medical practitioner to know and prescribe an effective approach to the diagnosed disorder.
References
Arcangelo, V. P., & Peterson, A. M. (Eds.). (2013).Pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice: A practical approach (3rd ed.). Ambler, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Drugs.com. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.drugs.com/
Thormar, H. (2011). Lipids and essential oils as antimicrobial agents. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley.
Vaishnavi, C. (2013). Infections of the gastrointestinal system. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Medical Pub.
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