Mechanism of Action
This antibiotic class inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis and includes penicillins.
What are beta-lactams?
Vancomycin is the go-to drug for this gram-positive pathogen.
What is MRSA?
This is the primary antibiotic used to treat uncomplicated UTIs.
What is nitrofurantoin?
Antibiotic stewardship aims to reduce this global health threat.
What is antibiotic resistance?
This term refers to an antibiotic's ability to inhibit or kill bacteria.
What is susceptibility?
Macrolides target this bacterial ribosomal subunit to inhibit protein synthesis.
What is the 50S ribosomal subunit?
This beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor is used for broad-spectrum coverage, including anaerobes.
What is piperacillin-tazobactam?
The standard empiric regimen for community-acquired pneumonia includes a beta-lactam and this class.
What are macrolides or fluoroquinolones?
Narrowing therapy based on culture and susceptibility data is a process known as what?
What is de-escalation?
These two lab results guide the choice of definitive antibiotic therapy.
What are Cultures and Sensitivities/Susceptibilities?
This class of antibiotics inhibits folic acid synthesis by targeting dihydrofolate reductase.
What are sulfonamides or trimethoprim?
This cephalosporin covers Pseudomonas and is commonly used for nosocomial infections.
What is cefepime?
Vancomycin and cefepime are often empirically used for this type of infection.
What is a healthcare-associated infection?
Antibiotics should be discontinued or reassessed after this time period if no infection is confirmed.
What is 48-72 hours?
A drug is considered effective if its MIC is lower than this value.
What is the breakpoint?
These antibiotics disrupt bacterial DNA synthesis by inhibiting DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV.
What are fluoroquinolones?
This antibiotic is effective against VRE (vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus).
What is linezolid?
Empiric therapy for meningitis includes this third-generation cephalosporin.
What is ceftriaxone?
Using narrow-spectrum antibiotics instead of broad-spectrum ones aligns with this stewardship principle.
What is Targeted Therapy?
This test determines whether a beta-lactamase inhibitor is necessary.
What is a beta-lactamase test?
This antibiotic class creates free radicals that damage bacterial DNA and is often used for anaerobic infections.
What is metronidazole?
This carbapenem does not cover Pseudomonas, unlike others in its class.
What is ertapenem?
This antibiotic class is added to empiric regimens when multidrug-resistant organisms are a concern.
What are carbapenems?
This diagnostic test helps reduce antibiotic use in patients with suspected respiratory infections.
What is procalcitonin?
This term describes bacteria that grow despite being exposed to an antibiotic at its breakpoint.
What is resistance?