Transcript Mechanisms Of Action Of Common Antimicrobials

Antimicrobial Compounds - Antiseptics & Disinfectants
Remember: These destroy or modify cellular products.
Phenolics - Denature proteins and disrupt cellular membranes
Alcohols - Dissolve plasma membranes
Heavy Metals (like mercury or silver) - Precipitate cellular proteins
Aldehydes - Cross-link (bind) cellular proteins to each other
Cationic Detergents - Disrupt plasma membranes
Hydrogen Peroxide - Cause oxidative damage to cellular components
Halogens (Chlorine, Bromine, Iodine) Cause oxidative damage
Iodine - Also attaches to proteins altering or disrupting their function
Ethylene oxide - Denatures proteins
The effectiveness of antiseptics/disinfectants is typically compared to a phenol
standard resulting in the calculation of a phenol coefficient for that particular
compound.
Antimicrobial Compounds - Antibiotics & Sulfa Drugs
Remember: These interfere with cellular processes*.
Penicillin - Interferes with cell wall synthesis
Ampicillin - Interferes with cell wall synthesis
Bacitracin - Interferes with cell wall synthesis
Vancomycin - Interferes with cell wall synthesis
Chloramphenicol - Interferes with protein synthesis
Tetracyclines - Interferes with protein synthesis
Erythromycin - Interferes with protein synthesis
Streptomycin - Interferes with protein synthesis
Quinolones (like ciprofloxacin) - Interfere with DNA replication and transcription
Sulfa Drugs - Interfere with nucleotide synthesis by competitive inhibition
Polymyxin B - Disrupts plasma membrane
*(This antibiotic acts like an antiseptic or disinfectant!!!!)
The therapeutic index of an antimicrobial drug is the ratio of its toxic dose to its
therapeutic dose.