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Flashcards in Penicillins Deck (36)
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1
Q

What are the classes of antibiotics?

A
  • Penicillins
  • Cephalosporins
  • Carbapenums
  • Macrolides
  • Aminoglycosides
  • Glycopeptides
  • Tetracyclines
  • Quinolones
2
Q

Give 6 examples of penicillins?

A
  • Amoxicillin
  • Ampicillin
  • Flucloxacillin
  • Benzylpenicillin
  • Phenoxymethylpenicillin (penicillin V)
  • Piperacillin
3
Q

What is it important to remember when prescribing co-amoxiclav?

A

That it contains a penicillin, and so cannot be given to penicillin-allergic patient

4
Q

What is the mechanism of action of penicillins?

A

Inhibits cross-linking of peptide chains in the peptidoglycan bacterial cell wall, resulting in lysis of the weakened bacterial cell wall and subsequent cell death

5
Q

What is meant by broad spectrum penicillins?

A

Effective in treating gram +ve and gram -ve bacteria, depending on indication

6
Q

Why is important to avoid the over-prescribing of antibiotics?

A

Because the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a serious challenge worldwide

7
Q

What are the potential routes of delivery of penicillins?

A
  • PO
  • IV
  • IM
8
Q

What are the indications for penicillins?

A
  • Respiratory tract infection
  • Otitis media
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Cellulitis
  • Bacterial meningitis
  • ENT infections
  • Prophylaxis
9
Q

What penicillin can be used in respiratory tract infections?

A
  • Amoxicillin

- Ampicillin

10
Q

What penicillin can be used in UTIs?

A
  • Amoxicillin

- Ampicillin

11
Q

What penicillin can be used in otitis media?

A
  • Amoxicillin

- Ampicillin

12
Q

What antibiotic can be used in cellulitis?

A

Flucloxacillin

13
Q

What antibiotic can be used in bacterial meningitis?

A

Benzylpenicillin

14
Q

What antibiotic can be used in ENT infections?

A

Phenoxymethylpenicillin

15
Q

When might extended spectrum penicillins be required?

A
  • Severe infections

- Pseudomonas

16
Q

Give an example of an extended spectrum penicillin?

A

Piperacillin

17
Q

Who might require prophylactic penicillin?

A

Splenectomy patients

18
Q

What antibiotic prophylaxis are splenectomy patients given?

A

Usually low-dose penicillin

19
Q

In addition to antibiotic prophylaxis, what else will splenectomy patients be given?

A

Further vaccinations, including the annual flu jab

20
Q

In whom are penicillins contraindicated?

A

In patients with hypersensitivity reaction to penicillin

21
Q

What is it important do when a patient reports that they are hypersensitive to penicillin?

A

Clarify details of allergic reaction to confirm that this is a true penicillin allergy

22
Q

Other than penicillins, what antibiotics should patients with immediate hypersensitivity reactions to penicillins react to?

A

Cephalosporins and other beta-lactam antibiotics, therefore should not receive these antibiotics

23
Q

What monitoring may be required when giving penicillins?

A
  • WCC
  • CRP
  • Patients clinical state
24
Q

What needs to be done if starting a patient on IV antibiotics?

A

This route should be reviewed within 48 hours of starting treatment

25
Q

What might interact with penicillin?

A
  • Warfarin

- Methotrexate

26
Q

What effect might penicillins when given with warfarin?

A

May increase INR

27
Q

What effect might penicillins have when given with methotrexate?

A

Increase risk of toxicity

28
Q

What are the common side effects of penicillins?

A
  • Antibiotic associated diarrhoea

- Hypersensitivity reactions

29
Q

What are the less common side effects of penicillins?

A
  • CNS toxicity

- False positive urinary glucose

30
Q

What patient counselling needs to be given with penicillins?

A
  • Complete antibiotic course
  • Take before food
  • Risks and signs of allergic reaction/angiodema
  • Important drug interactions
31
Q

Why is it important to counsel the patient about completing their antibiotic course with penicillin?

A

Failure to complete course may result in antibiotic resistance, making infections by the pathogen harder to treat in the future

32
Q

What penicillins should be taken on an empty stomach?

A
  • Flucloxacillin

- Phenoxylmethylpenicillin

33
Q

How can you ensure the patient knows how to take their penicillin?

A

Advice them to read the instruction leaflet with their medication for further instructions on its use

34
Q

What signs of allergic reaction to penicillin should patients be made aware of?

A
  • Swelling of face, eyes, lips, or tongue

- Breathing difficulties

35
Q

What should patients be advised to do if they develop the symptoms of an allergic reaction to penicillin?

A

Call an ambulance

36
Q

What may be required as a result of penicillins potentially increasing INR?

A

May be necessary to get INR checked more regularly during antibiotic course