NURS 3550H Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Beta-Lactam, Cell Envelope, Penicillin
28 Dec 2018
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Drugs that weaken the bacterial cell wall i: penicillin. Practically ideal antibiotics because they are active against a variety of bacteria and their toxicity is low. Allergic reactions are the principal adverse reactions. Have a beta-lactam ring in their structure, called beta-lactam antibiotics: all share the same mechanism of action (disruption of the bacterial cell wall) Structure and function of the bacterial cell wall: a rigid, permeable, mesh-like structure that lies outside the cytoplasmic membrane. Penicillin weaken the cell wall, causing bacteria to take up excessive amounts of water and rupture: penicillins are generally bactericidal, penicillins are active only against bacteria that are underdoing growth and division. Inhibition of transpeptidases: disinhibition (action) of autolysis. By simultaneously inhibiting transpeptidases and activating autolysins, the penicillins: disrupt synthesis of the cell wall, promote its active destruction, these actions result in cell lysis and death. Bacterial resistance to penicillins is determined primarily by 3 factors: Inability of penicillins to reach their targets (pbps)
