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Pharmacology Ch. 39
Chapter 39 Antibiotics Part II Vocabulary
15
Pharmacology
Undergraduate 3
10/04/2013

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Term

Concentration-dependent killing

Definition
A property of some antibiotics, especially aminoglycosides, whereby achieving a relatively high plasma drug concentration, even if briefly, results in the most effective bacterial kill (compare time-dependent killing).
Term

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs)

Definition
A group of beta-lactamase enzymes produced by some organisms that makes the organism resistant to all beta-lactam antibiotics (penicillins and cephalosporins) and aztreonam. Patients infected by such organisms must be in contact isolation, and proper hand washing is key to preventing the spread of the infections.
Term

Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)

Definition
An enzyme first found in isolates of the bacterium klebsiella pneumoniae that renders the organism resistant to all carbapenem antibiotics as well as beta-lactam antibiotics and monobactams. Such organisms produce a very resistant infection.
Term

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Definition
A strain of Staphylococcus aureus that is resistant to the beta-lactamase penicillin known as methicillin. Originally, the abbreviation MRSA referred exclusively to methicillin-resistant S. aureus. It is now used more commonly to refer to strains of S. aureus that are resistant to several drug classes, and therefore, depending on the context or health facility, it may also stand for "multidrug-resistant S. aureus.
Term

Microgram

Definition
One millionth of a gram. Be careful not to confuse with milligram  (one thousandth of a gram), which is a thousand times greater than 1 microgram. Confusion of these two units sometimes results in drug dosage errors.
Term

Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)

Definition
A laboratory measure of the lowest concentration of a drug needed to kill a certain standardized amount of bacteria.
Term

Multidrug-resistant organism

Definition
Bacteria that are resistant to one or more classes of microbial drugs. These include multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing organisms, and Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing organisms.
Term

Nephrotoxicity

Definition
Toxicity to the kidneys, often drug induced and manifesting as compromised renal function.
Term

Ototoxicity

Definition
Toxicity to the ears, often drug induced manifesting as varying degrees of hearing loss that is more likely permanent than the impaired renal funtion resulting from nephrotoxicity.
Term

Postantibiotic effect

Definition
A period of continued bacterial suppression that occors after brief exposure to certain antibiotic  drug classes, especially aminoglycosides and carbapenems. The mechanism of this effect is uncertain.
Term

Pseudomembranous colitis

Definition
A necrotizing inflammatory bowel condition that is often associated with antibiotic therapy. Some antibiotics (e.g. clindamycin) are more likely to produce it than others. A more general term that is also used is antibiotic-associated colitis.
Term

Synergistic effect

Definition
Drug interaction in which the bacterial killing effect of two antibiotics given together is greater than the sum of the individual effects of the same drug given alone.
Term

Therapeutic drug monitoring

Definition
Ongoing monitoring of plasma drug concentrations and dosage adjustment based on these values as well as other laboratory indicators such as kidney and liver function test results; it is often carried out by a pharmacist in collaboration with medical, nursing, and laboratory staff.
Term

Time-dependent killing

Definition
A property of most antibiotic classes whereby prolonged high plasma drug concentrations are required for effective bacterial kill (compare concentration-dependent killing).
Term

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE)

Definition
Enterococcus species that are resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics and vancomycin. Most commonly refers to Enterococcus faecium.
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