Pharmacology for Care of the Family - Chamberlain College
- Things to know about each of the major antibiotic drug classes:
● Examples:
○ Bactericidal agents: “BANG Q R.I.P” - Beta-lactams,
Aminoglicosides, Nitroimidazoles (Metronidazole), Glycopeptides
(Vancomycin), Quinolones, Rifampicin, Polymyxins (Colistin)
○ Bacteriostatic agents: “Ms. Colt” - Macrolides, Sulfonamides,
Chloramphenicol, Oxazolidinones, Lincosamides (Clindamycin),
Tetracyclines
Bactericidal antibiotics kill bacteria directly, and bacteriostatic antibiotics
stop/weaken bacteria from growing.to enable the immune system to take hold of
infection
-Things to know about each of the major antibiotic drug classes (MAKE FLASHCARDS)
● Aminoglycosides
● Cephalosporins
● Tetracyclines
,● Penicillins
● Sulfonamides
● Fluoroquinolones
, ● Macrolides
● Carbapenems
● Lincosamides
● Glycopeptides
o Examples
o Contraindications and high-risk patients
o Know examples of each of the major antibiotic drug classes.
o Monitoring needs
o Which ones require renal dosing adjustments and how much (i.e., 25%, 50%, etc.)
o Patient education
o Lifespan considerations including pregnancy o Indications for use
Considerations:
● Renal/hepatic function: doses may need to be reduced. Consider creatinine clearance.
● Age: dose adjustments may be required for pediatric and geriatric patients-
weight-based may be appropriate.
● Pregnancy and lactation: Be aware of teratogenic effects of certain
classes of medications
● Recent antibiotic use: Be aware of possible drug-resistant bacteria
● Exposure history: travel, congregate care settings, close contacts
● Monitoring needs
○ Next, consider the syndrome, or presenting illness. -- What system is
impacted? How aggressive is the infection? Consider non-bacterial
causes of symptoms (i.e. viral, fungal, or non-infections) Carefully
examine the clinical presentation of illness.
● Which ones require renal dosing adjustments and how much (i.e., 25%, 50%, etc.):
VII. Precautions: Antibiotics
A. Antibiotics that require NO renal dose adjustment
1. Azithromycin
2. Ceftriaxone
3. Clindamycin
4. Doxycyline
5. Linezolid
6. Moxifloxacin
7. Nafcillin
8. Rifampin
B. Agents to avoid in severe Chronic Kidney Disease
1. Penicillin G (Myoclonus, Seizures, coma risk)
2. Imipenem with cilastin (Seizure risk); Meropenem safe
3. Tetracycline (exacerbates Uremia); Doxycycline safe
4. Nitrofurantoin (peripheral neurotoxicity)
5. Aminoglycosides (or close level monitoring if used)
, C. Amoxicillin
1. Reduce to every 24 hours if GFR<10 ml/min
D. Augmentin
1. Reduce to every 24 hours if GFR<10 ml/min
2. Do not use Augmentin 875/125 mg tabs if GFR<30 ml/min
E. Cefazolin
1. Reduce to every 12 hours if GFR<50 ml/min
2. Reduce to 50% every 24-48 hours if GFR<10 ml/min
F. Cefuroxime
1. Reduce to 250 to 500 mg every 24 hours if GFR<10 ml/min
G. Cephalexin
1. Reduce to every 12-24 hours if GFR<10 ml/min
H. Ciprofloxacin
1. Reduce dose to 50-75% if GFR<50 ml/min
2. Reduce dose to 50% or change to once daily dosing if GFR<10 ml/min
I. Clarithromycin
1. Reduce dose to 50-100% if GFR<50 ml/min
2. Reduce dose to 50% or change to once daily dosing if GFR<10 ml/min
J. Penicillin
1. Reduce to 50% if GFR <30 ml/min
K. Levofloxacin
1. Reduce to every 24-48 hours if GFR<50 ml/min (or 500 mg loading dose, then
250 mg for subsequent doses)
2. Reduce to every 48 hours if GFR<20 ml/min
3. Avoid if GFR<10 ml/min
L. Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ, Septra, Bactrim)
1. Reduce to 50% if GFR <30 ml/min
2. Avoid if GFR<15 ml/min
M. Vancomycin
1. Adjust dosing intervals based on drug level and Creatinine Clearance
It is important that antibiotics not be discontinued prematurely. Accordingly pts
should be instructed to take their medication for the entire prescribed course, even
though s/s may subside before the full course has been completed. Early
discontinuation is a common cx of recurrent infection, and the organisms
responsible for relapse are likely to be more drug resistant than those present
when tx began.
Lifespan considerations including pregnancy
● Infants: are highly vulnerable to drug toxicity. BC of poor developed
kidney & liver function. Use of Sulfonamides in newborns can produce
kernicterus (a severe neurological disorder cause by displacement of
bilirubin from plasma proteins
● Children/adolescents: the tetracyclines provide another example of toxicity
unique to the young; these antibiotics bind to the developing teeth, causing
discoloration.