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» LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » How Antibiotics Work--the Mechanism of Action

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Author Topic: How Antibiotics Work--the Mechanism of Action
minoucat
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This is from APUA


How Antibiotics Work--the Mechanism of Action

Aminoglycosides: Inhibit protein synthesis by binding to a portion of the bacterial ribosome. Most of them are bacteriocidal (i.e., cause bacterial cell death). Examples: gentamicin, neomycin, streptomycin

Bacitracin: Inhibits cell wall production by blocking the step in the process (recycling of the membrane lipid carrier) which is needed to add on new cell wall subunits. Example: Neosporin contains Bacitracin as one of its antibiotic agents along with Neomycin and Polymyxin B

Beta-lactam antibiotics: A name for the group of antibiotics which contain a specific chemical structure (i.e., a beta-lactam ring). This includes penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems and monobactams.

Cephalosporins: Similar to penicillins in their mode of action but they treat a broader range of bacterial infections. They have structural similarities to penicillins and many people with allergies to penicillins also have allergic reactions to cephalosporins. Third generation cephlasoporins include Rocephin, Omnicef, Suprax

Chloramphenicol: Inhibits protein synthesis by binding to a subunit of bacterial ribosomes (50S).

Glycopeptides (e.g., vancomycin): Interferes with cell wall development by blocking the attachment of new cell wall subunits (muramyl pentapeptides).

Macrolides (e.g., erythromycin) and Lincosamides (e.g., clindamycin): Inhibit protein synthesis by binding to a subunit of the bacterial ribosome (50S). Includes Azithromycin, Clarithromycin (Biaxin), Clindamycin,

Penicillins: Inhibits formation of the bacterial cell wall by blocking cross-linking of the cell wall structure. The cell wall is a needed protective casing for the bacterial cell.

Quinolones: Blocks DNA synthesis by inhibiting one of the enzymes (DNA gyrase) needed in this process. Includes Cipro, Levaquin, Avelox

Rifampin: Inhibits RNA synthesis by inhibiting one of the enzymes (DNA-dependent RNA polymerase) needed in this process. RNA is needed to make proteins.

Tetracyclines: Inhibit protein synthesis by binding to the subunit of the bacterial ribosome (30S subunit). Included doxycycline, minocycline.

Trimethoprim and Sulfonamides: Blocks cell metabolism by inhibiting enzymes which are needed in the biosynthesis of folic acid which is a necessary cell compound. Includes Probenecid, Bactrim

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RECIDITE, PLEBES! Gero rem imperialem!
(Stand aside plebians! I am on imperial business.)



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adamm
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Hey great info!

Which of these act on cell-wall deficient forms, though?

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robi
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Great info! Thanks for being so damn smart and helpful.

My version of the mechanism of action of penecillin:
First the nurse tells you it won't really hurt ( you know that's a lie because you have been reading lymenet and they can't all be wrong!)

Next, you ask for an ice pack, you get an ice pack and three minutes later the nurse comes back and says, "ready ?" You smile and say, "no." She says, "when should I come back?'' You say, "after lunch". She thinks your joking and says "bend over."

After that, you know for sure she lied about the pain because you are sweating, screaming and cussing for the next minute or so while the elmer's glue like substance is forced in to your muscle.

You pass out.

When you get up, she says "oh it wasn't that bad'' and you want to slap her but you don't because in the long run you know she really is helping you.

You go about your business for the next several hours. Then the party begins as the penicillin is absorbed, you get weaker and weaker, pain rockets, you can't think. Was that a bad dream? A view of your butt in the mirror proves it was no dream.

You get sypmtoms you haven't had in years. Your head is exploding, you get that "sick" all over feeling. You wonder why you did this to yourself.

After feeling like your gonna die for about 2.5 to 3 days, you begin to climb out of the hole. You return to just "regualr crappy".You think, "ok, maybe it wasn't that painful" and you schedule your next injection.


Just my experience.
robi

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Now, since I put reality on the back burner, my days are jam-packed and fun-filled. ..........lily tomlin as 'trudy'

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Neil M Martin
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Robi and all

APUA is with Tufts.

As for Penn G: I'd take Honey bee venom or IM oxone injections any day. Why not put xylocane in Penn G or offer a narcotic pain pill with the ice pack? N

[ 17. February 2008, 05:20 PM: Message edited by: Neil M Martin ]

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Neil

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robi
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Hi Cave,

I would say really there was nothing "fun" with or about this injection.


The nurse that injected me had 10+ years of experience. Not that that means she knows what she is doing .............. I felt she was competent.

Hopefully my next injection falls in the "not too painful" range.

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Now, since I put reality on the back burner, my days are jam-packed and fun-filled. ..........lily tomlin as 'trudy'

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minoucat
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Robi, a friend of mine locally had the same experience with her nurse and the penicillin shots, even down to the "Oh, it doesn't really hurt".

The three big problems with the shots tend to be 1) it's not warmed up enough 2) your butt isn't iced enough and 3) it's given too fast.

So I suggest that you start icing your butt as soon as you get in the car to go for the shot. I need at least 15 min of icing.

Ask for the syringe as soon as you get to the office and stick it under your arm for at least 5 minutes, preferably longer.

Then insist that the nurse inject it slowly -- when I gave the hubby his shot, I'd use the letters on the syringe as a guide. I'd inject one letter's worth, count to 3, and so on.

Hop up and walk around afterwards. Saying "Owy, owy owy" is optional but advised as you walk.

You'll be doing these shots for a while, presumably, so you need to look the nurse in the eye and make her listen.

My brother in law was a medic in the army, and used to give penicillin shots for the guys with STDs. He said they were always kind on the first shots, warming the penicillin and giving them slowly. If the guys didn't learn their lesson and kept coming back, they'd give them cold out of the fridge and do them quickly. With a grin.

[ 19. February 2008, 11:42 PM: Message edited by: minoucat ]

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RECIDITE, PLEBES! Gero rem imperialem!
(Stand aside plebians! I am on imperial business.)



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B R H
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quote:
Originally posted by adamm:
Hey great info!

Which of these act on cell-wall deficient forms, though?

Macrolides & some tetracyclines are most effective against CWD bacteria.

If you want to create CWD forms, try beta-lactams.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8811359?dopt=Abstract
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12549407?dopt=Abstract

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bettyg
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minou, good find! thanks for enlightening us all! [group hug] [kiss]
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Bitrex
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quote:
Originally posted by adamm:
Hey great info!

Which of these act on cell-wall deficient forms, though?

I believe the antibiotics that would be effective against cell-wall deficient forms would be the kind that either inhibit DNA synthesis or inhibit RNA transcription by binding to a ribosomal subunit; these would be quinolones in the first case, and the tetracyclines and macrolides in the second.
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