Antimicrobials

Introduction to Antimicrobials:

• Antimicrobials are agents that kill microorganisms or inhibit their growth, playing a critical role in treating and preventing infections in humans, animals, and plants.
• This group includes antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics, each with varying mechanisms of action depending on the type of microorganism they target.

Mechanism of Action of Antimicrobials:

• Antimicrobials exert their effects on microorganisms through various mechanisms:

1. 1. Inhibition of Cell Wall Synthesis:

      • Antibiotics like penicillins and cephalosporins target bacterial cell walls, essential for bacterial integrity and survival.
      • Inhibiting cell wall synthesis causes bacteria to burst and die.

   2. Inhibition of Protein Synthesis:

      • Antibiotics such as tetracyclines and macrolides bind to bacterial ribosomes, interfering with protein production necessary for bacterial growth and function.

   3. Alteration of Cell Membranes:

      • Antifungals like amphotericin B bind to components of fungal cell membranes, increasing permeability and causing leakage of cellular contents.

   4. Inhibition of Nucleic Acid Synthesis:

      • Drugs like quinolones and rifampicin interfere with DNA or RNA synthesis, crucial for bacterial replication and transcription.

   5. Antimetabolites:

      • Sulfonamides act as antimetabolites, inhibiting folate synthesis, a vital process for bacterial DNA synthesis and replication.

   6. Interference with Pathogen Metabolism:

      • Some antimicrobials disrupt specific biochemical pathways essential for the microorganism’s energy production or replication.

Classification of Antimicrobials:

• 
• Antimicrobials are classified based on the type of organisms they target, their chemical structure, and their mechanism of action:

1. Antibiotics as Antimicrobials:

   • Specifically target bacteria.
   • Broad-spectrum: Effective against a wide range of bacteria.
   • Narrow-spectrum: Effective against specific types of bacteria.

2. Antivirals as Antimicrobials:

   • Target viruses.
   • Categorized based on the stage of the viral life cycle they affect, such as viral entry inhibitors or nucleoside analogs that inhibit viral replication.

3. Antifungals:

   • Used against fungal infections.
   • Include classes like polyenes, azoles, and echinocandins, differing in their mechanisms of action.

4. Antiparasitics:

   • Target parasitic infections caused by organisms like protozoa and helminths.
   • Examples include metronidazole for Giardia infections and mebendazole for worm infections.

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