Antimicrobial Action and Resistance

Author: Katie Ruger, M.Ed., B.S., M(ASCP)CM
Reviewer: Hallee Waye, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM
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Continuing Education Credits

P.A.C.E.® Contact Hours: 1 hour(s)

Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Science CE Credit Hours

Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Science CE - General (Microbiology/Mycology/Parasitology): 1 hour(s)

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Objectives

  • Define antibiotic and antimicrobial.
  • Describe the history of antibiotics.
  • Describe the difference between bactericidal and bacteriostatic agents.
  • Describe the basic structure and chemical principle of gram-positive and gram-negative cell walls.
  • List the mode of action of common antibacterial agents.
  • List the common mechanisms of antibiotic resistance.

Course Outline

  • Introduction to Antibiotics and Antimicrobial Agents
    • What are antibiotics and antimicrobials?
    • True or False: Antibiotics are a specific subset of antimicrobial substances naturally produced by microorganisms.
  • Origins of Antibiotics
    • History of Antibiotics
    • True or False: The overuse of antibiotics, coupled with a decline in the discovery of new antibiotics, has contributed to the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
  • Antibiotic Effects on Bacteria
    • Bactericidal Agents
    • Bacteriostatic Agents
    • Which of the following antibiotics are considered bactericidal?
  • Bacterial Cell Wall
    • Bacterial Cell Wall
    • True or False: Gram-positive bacteria have a thin peptidoglycan layer, while gram-negative bacteria have a thick peptidoglycan layer.
  • Mode of Action
    • Mode of Action
    • True or False: Antimicrobial agents are categorized based on their mode of action, which enhances bacterial survival and proliferation by supporting essential processes.
  • Inhibition of Cell Wall Synthesis
    • Mode of Action: Inhibition of Cell Wall Synthesis
    • Inhibition of Cell Wall Synthesis: Beta Lactams
    • Inhibition of Cell Wall Synthesis: Beta Lactams, continued
    • Inhibition of Cell Wall Synthesis: Glycopeptides
    • Inhibition of Cell Wall Synthesis: Glycopeptides, continued
    • Beta-lactam antibiotics exert their antibacterial effect by targeting specific proteins involved in cell wall synthesis. What is the primary mechanism by which these antibiotics work?
  • Inhibition of Cell Membrane Function
    • Mode of Action: Inhibition of Cell Membrane Function
    • Inhibition of Cell Membrane Function: Polymyxins
    • Inhibition of Cell Membrane Function: Daptomycin
    • Inhibition of Cell Membrane Function: Amphotericin B
    • Inhibition of Cell Membrane Function: Azole Antifungals
    • True or False: Amphotericin B and daptomycin are effective against bacterial infections by disrupting cell membrane function.
  • Inhibition of Protein Synthesis
    • Mode of Action: Inhibition of Protein Synthesis
    • Inhibition of Protein Synthesis: Aminoglycosides
    • Inhibition of Protein Synthesis: Tetracyclines
    • Inhibition of Protein Synthesis: Macrolides
    • Inhibition of Protein Synthesis: Chloramphenicol
    • Inhibition of Protein Synthesis: Oxazolidinones
    • Which of the following mechanisms is commonly employed by antibiotics that inhibit bacterial protein synthesis?
  • Inhibition of Metabolic Pathways
    • Mode of Action: Inhibition of Metabolic Pathways
    • Inhibition of Metabolic Pathways: Sulfonamides & Trimethoprim
    • Inhibition of Metabolic Pathways: Nitrofurantoin
    • True or False: Antibiotics that inhibit metabolic pathways, such as sulfonamides, interfere with the synthesis of folic acid in bacteria.
  • Inhibition of Nucleic Acid Synthesis
    • Mode of Action: Inhibition of Nucleic Acid Synthesis
    • Inhibition of Nucleic Acid Synthesis: Fluoroquinolones
    • Inhibition of Nucleic Acid Synthesis: Rifamycins
    • Inhibition of Nucleic Acid Synthesis: Metronidazole
    • Why are fluoroquinolones often reserved for cases where other antibiotics are not suitable despite their broad spectrum activity?
    • Match the antibiotic with its mode of action:
  • Mechanisms of Antibiotic Resistance
    • Mechanisms of Antibiotic Resistance
    • Mechanisms of Antibiotic Resistance: Intrinsic Resistance
    • Mechanisms of Antibiotic Resistance: Acquired Resistance
    • True or False: Intrinsic resistance can be acquired through genetic mutations or the uptake of resistance genes from other bacteria, while acquired resistance is a natural characteristic in all bacterial species.
  • References
    • References

Additional Information

Level of Instruction: Basic
Intended Audience: Medical laboratory scientists, medical laboratory technicians, microbiologists, and laboratory supervisors. This course is also appropriate for MLS and MLT students and pathology residents.
Author Information: Katie Ruger, M.Ed., B.S., M(ASCP)CM, is a Technical Specialist in the Diagnostic Infectious Diseases Laboratory at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, where she began her journey in 1998. She earned her undergraduate degree from Wright State University and a master's in education from Xavier University. After several years teaching a range of high school subjects, including Biology, Physical Science, and Earth Science, she transitioned to a career in Microbiology.
Reviewer Information: Hallee Waye, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, has over 10 years of experience as a medical laboratory scientist. She has clinical experience in blood bank, microbiology, chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, and coagulation. She currently works as a clinical microbiologist and MLS Program Director for the Parkview School of Medical Laboratory Science in Pueblo, CO. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in microbiology from Colorado State University, attended the Colorado Center for Medical Laboratory Science to obtain her professional certificate in medical laboratory science, and completed her master’s degree in clinical laboratory science at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.