Download Treatment of Infectious Diseases

Treatment of Infectious
Diseases

Grouped into categories based on their
modes of action:
◦ Penicillins/cephalosporins interfere with layer of
the cell wall
◦ Chloramphenicol, tetracyclines, erythromycinsmay be toxic when used in high doses of
prolonged periods of time
◦ Rifampin-used for treatment of TB
Bacterial Treatments

Highly toxic to host cells because viruses
use the host’s metabolic enzymes in
reproduction
◦ Antiviral drugs target virus-specific enzymes
◦ Acyclovir-used in treatment of genital herpes
◦ Amantadine-used to shorten episodes of
influenza
◦ AZT-inhibit replication of HIV genome
Viral Infections Inhibitors
Highly toxic to mammals
 Azole derivatives inhibit sterol syntheses
 Amphotericin B- disrupts cell membranemakes it leak-cell dies

Fungus, Protozoa, Helminth
Treatment
Presents ongoing problems in the fight
against infectious diseases
 Most likely from indiscriminate use of
antibiotics
 Drug resistance has been an ongoing
problem for about 60 years

Antimicrobial Resistance
Penicillin resistance noted as early as
1943
 Mycobacterium tuberculosis-some strains
resistant to all drugs
 Resistance to antibiotics-result of changes
in genetic information

◦ Initially as mutations to existing genes
◦ Many bacteria acquire these genes
◦ Resistant genes are transferred to other
members of same species
Antimicrobial Resistance