inhibitor reduces the production of prostaglandins and thereby reduces the
symptoms of inflammation.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are aspirin and “aspirin-like
drugs.”Aspirin is the most commonly used prostaglandin inhibitor because it is
an analgesic to relieve pain. It is also an antipyretic to lower body temperature
and it is an anticoagulant that inhibits the formation of platelets.
Other nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are also prostaglandin
inhibitors. Other NSAIDs require a lower dose than aspirin to have the same
analgesic effect. However, most NSAIDs have a lower anti-inflammatory effect
than aspirin.
ANTIMICROBIALS—STUFF
MICROORGANISMS DIE FOR
Two of the first antimicrobials developed were sulfonamides and penicillin (PCN).
Sulfonamidesare bacteriostatic, which means they stop the growth of bacteria,
but do not kill bacteria. Penicillin, the first antibiotic, is a bacteriocidal and kills
bacteria using lysis, which explodes the bacteria into parts.
Tip: A static means stops growth while cidal (homicide) means kills.Today there are many synthetic and semi-synthetic antimicrobials on the mar-
ket that stop some bacteria from growing and kill other bacteria. For example,
chloramphenicol is bacteriostatic and stops most bacteria from growing while it
is bacteriocidal and kills S pneumoniae and H influenzain cerebral spinal fluid.
Tetracycline is also bacteriostatic and bacteriocidal; in small concentrations it
stops the growth of bacteria and in high concentration it kills bacteria.
Sulfonamides and penicillin are administered orally, topically as an ointment
or cream, or parenterally and are absorbed into the body and distributed by the
circulatory system. In severe infections, they can be administered directly at
the site of the infection such as in the eye or rubbed on the skin.
There are four ways in which these medications work.
1.They inhibit the bacteria from growing a cell wall (cell wall synthesis).
2.They disrupt or alter the permeability of the bacteria’s membrane. The
membrane is within the cell wall and is used to let nutrients into the cell
and send waste out of the cell.
3.They inhibit the bacteria’s ability to make protein (protein synthesis).
Medications that stop the growth of bacteria interrupt steps in protein syn-
thesis. Those that kill bacteria cause the bacteria to form defective proteins.CHAPTER 13 Antimicrobials—Fighting Infection^205