Advanced Pharmacology –
Antimicrobial Recall & High-Yield
Pearls (Bacteriostatic,
Bactericidal, MIC/MBC & Clinical
Use)|Latest Updated Rationales
Graded A+ Veried 2026
Bacteriostatic Drugs: Definition
Slow bacterial growth but do NOT cause cell death.
Bacteriostatic Drugs: Examples
KNOW "ECSTaTiC"
Erythromycin
Clindamycin
Sulfamethoxazole
Trimethoprim
a
Tetracycline
i
Chloramphenicol
Bactericidal Drugs: Definition
Drugs which are directly lethal to bacteria at clinically achievable concentrations.
Bactericidal Drugs: Example
Very Finely Proficient At Cell Murder
Vancomycin
Fluoroquinolones
,Penicillin
Aminoglycosides
Cephalosporins
Metronidazole
Narrow vs Broad Spectrum Antibiotics
Narrow - only active against a few microorgs
Broad - wipes out a variety of microorganisms
Always start with narrow-spectrum drugs
Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC)
The lowest concentration of an antibacterial agent required to kill a particular bacterium.
Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC)
The lowest concentration of an antimicrobial agent that will inhibit the visible growth of a
microorganism after overnight incubation (in vitro).
Antibiogram
A chart of local resistance patterns to antibiotics developed by laboratories.
Empiric vs Prophylactic Antibiotic Use
Empiric: Based on clinical presentation.
- Antibiotic therapy for patients before the causative organism is positively identified.
- Covering most likely organisms.
- Cultures should be obtained prior to initiation.
- Re-evaluated upon results.
Prophylaxis:
- Surgical examples
- Recurrent UTIs
The 3 Main Gram-Positive Organisms
, Staph
Strep
Enterococcus
What is the causative agent for: Otitis Media
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Haemophilus influenzae
Moraxella catarrhalis (M.cat)
viral
What is the causative agent for: Sinusitis
Strep pneumoniae
M. catarrhalis
H flu
viral
What is the causative agent for: Pneumonia
SSHCKML
Strep pneumoniae
S. aureus
H. flu
chlamydia
Klebsiella
mycoplasma
legionella
What is the causative agent for: Diarrhea
BCCESS
Bacteroides fragilis.
C. diff
Campylobacter
Antimicrobial Recall & High-Yield
Pearls (Bacteriostatic,
Bactericidal, MIC/MBC & Clinical
Use)|Latest Updated Rationales
Graded A+ Veried 2026
Bacteriostatic Drugs: Definition
Slow bacterial growth but do NOT cause cell death.
Bacteriostatic Drugs: Examples
KNOW "ECSTaTiC"
Erythromycin
Clindamycin
Sulfamethoxazole
Trimethoprim
a
Tetracycline
i
Chloramphenicol
Bactericidal Drugs: Definition
Drugs which are directly lethal to bacteria at clinically achievable concentrations.
Bactericidal Drugs: Example
Very Finely Proficient At Cell Murder
Vancomycin
Fluoroquinolones
,Penicillin
Aminoglycosides
Cephalosporins
Metronidazole
Narrow vs Broad Spectrum Antibiotics
Narrow - only active against a few microorgs
Broad - wipes out a variety of microorganisms
Always start with narrow-spectrum drugs
Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC)
The lowest concentration of an antibacterial agent required to kill a particular bacterium.
Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC)
The lowest concentration of an antimicrobial agent that will inhibit the visible growth of a
microorganism after overnight incubation (in vitro).
Antibiogram
A chart of local resistance patterns to antibiotics developed by laboratories.
Empiric vs Prophylactic Antibiotic Use
Empiric: Based on clinical presentation.
- Antibiotic therapy for patients before the causative organism is positively identified.
- Covering most likely organisms.
- Cultures should be obtained prior to initiation.
- Re-evaluated upon results.
Prophylaxis:
- Surgical examples
- Recurrent UTIs
The 3 Main Gram-Positive Organisms
, Staph
Strep
Enterococcus
What is the causative agent for: Otitis Media
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Haemophilus influenzae
Moraxella catarrhalis (M.cat)
viral
What is the causative agent for: Sinusitis
Strep pneumoniae
M. catarrhalis
H flu
viral
What is the causative agent for: Pneumonia
SSHCKML
Strep pneumoniae
S. aureus
H. flu
chlamydia
Klebsiella
mycoplasma
legionella
What is the causative agent for: Diarrhea
BCCESS
Bacteroides fragilis.
C. diff
Campylobacter
