Antibiotic Terminology Lecture

Introduction

• Presenter: Dr. O
• Objective: Explain key terminologies related to antibiotics and antimicrobials.
• Note: These terms will be discussed in detail in other videos.

Antibiotics vs. Antimicrobials

• Antibiotics:

  • Compounds produced by microbes (bacteria or fungi).
  • Inhibit growth or kill other microbes.
  • Must be produced by a living organism to qualify.

• Antimicrobials:

  • Broader category than antibiotics.
  • Include synthetic antibiotics, sulfa drugs, etc.
  • Can target bacteria, fungi, parasites, or viruses.
  • Hand sanitizers are also considered antimicrobials.

Selective Toxicity

• Key concept in microbiology and antibiotic development.
• Definition: Ability to kill microbes without harming the host.
• Mechanism: Exploit differences between human and bacterial cells (e.g., cell walls, ribosomes).

Spectrum of Antibiotics

• Broad Spectrum:

  • Effective against a wide range of bacteria (gram-positive and gram-negative).
  • Potential downside: kills beneficial bacteria as well.

• Narrow Spectrum:

  • Targets a specific type of bacteria (either gram-positive or gram-negative).
  • Ideal for minimizing impact on beneficial bacteria.

• Extended Spectrum:

  • Semi-synthetic antibiotics (e.g., modified penicillins).
  • Broadened to affect more types of bacteria.

Superbugs vs. Superinfections

• Superbug:

  • Multi-drug resistant organisms (e.g., MRSA).
  • Resistant to two or more antibiotic treatments.

• Superinfection:

  • Occurs due to antibiotic treatment, especially Broad Spectrum antibiotics.
  • Examples: Candida (yeast infections) and C. diff (Clostridium difficile).
  • C. diff is a severe problem, thrives when microbiome is disrupted.
  • Superinfections are secondary infections appearing after initial antibiotic treatment.

Bactericidal vs. Bacteriostatic

• Bactericidal:

  • Compounds that kill bacteria ("cide" means to kill).

• Bacteriostatic:

  • Compounds that inhibit bacterial growth.
  • Examples include sulfa drugs, refrigeration.

Conclusion

• Familiarity with these terms is essential before delving deeper into antibiotic studies.
• Understanding these concepts will enhance comprehension of subsequent lectures.