TYPES OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
Although used synonymously with "drug resistance", the term "antibiotic resistance" covers only one type of microbe, bacteria. "Antimicrobial resistance", on the other hand, is a term that is better synonym, as it refers to the resistance of a variety microbes to a variety of drugs. These include antibiotics, antivirals,
antifungals, and antiparasitics. Explore this page to learn about each type of antimicrobial drug.
ANTIBIOTICS
Antibiotics are a type of drug specifically used to counter infectious bacteria.
These drugs are among the most frequently prescribed medications by physicians today and the most common type of resistance. The first antibiotic, penicillin, was discovered accidentally by Alexander Fleming over 70 years ago. Today, over 100 different varieties are available to treat both minor, and life-threatening infections. Despite the fact that these drugs are useful in a wide range of infections, it is important to acknowledge that antibiotics only treat bacterial infections. Therefore, these same medications would be useless against infection induced by viruses or fungi.
Most antibiotics eliminate bacteria by interfering and with the structure and development of a bacterium's cell wall. Others work by preventing the multiplication of these microbes. These actions help the body's immune system fight the infection. Antibiotics differ in the bacteria they combat. Some, broad spectrum antibiotics, are effective against a wide range of bacteria, while others, narrow spectrum antibiotics, only affect a few types of bacteria.
Whether it be household cleaning supplies, hand-sanitizers, or even soaps many products today are labeled "antibacterial" and claim to kill "99.9% of germs". Despite the flashy advertisement and marketing, these products cause more harm than good. In fact, there is no real benefit to these products at all. Research shows that antibacterial products are no more effective than their non-antibacterial counterparts. These products wipe out colonies of good bacteria that play a role in keeping the body healthy. This action also allows for the growth of resistant bacteria as it eliminates the competition for resources. Despite this, the sale of antibacterial products, specifically hand sanitizers and soaps, have skyrocketed within the past few years due to both the misconceptions surrounding the items and their convenience. It seems that things labeled "antibacterial" have become somewhat of a trend.
THE USE OF ANTIBACTERIAL PRODUCTS
With new resistant strains of bacteria evolving each day, the development of new medications becomes increasingly important. Yet, there has not been a new class of antibiotics introduced in over 30 years. What is to be done when infecetions cause by pathogens such as MRSA, the leading nosocomial infection, become resistant to last line antibiotics?
ANTIVIRALS
Antivirals drugs are prescribed to suppress the symptoms of a viral infection.
Antiviral drugs are medications that specifically target infectious viruses. When used, antivirals help reduce the duration of the disease and alleviate symptoms. Creating safe and effective antiviral medication is difficult, due to the method they reproduce. In short, viruses take over host cells and control host cells in order to replicate. Therefore, it is difficult to produce a drug that would interfere with the virus without harming the host organism's cells
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Like other antimicrobial agents, antivirals can decrease the ability of viruses to reproduce. However, it is important to note that antivirals do not rid the pathogen from the host's body. They simply inhibit the development of the target virus and suppress symptoms. This helps prevent the spreading of the pathogen and allows time for the immune system to kick in. Today, these drugs are prescribed for HIV, Herpes, Hepatitis B and C, and most often Influenza A and B.
ANTIFUNGALS
Antifungal medication target and eliminate pathogenic fungal agents.
Fungal infections of the skin, nails and mouth are fairly common. For the average healthy individual with a normal immune system, it is rare for fungi to affect internal organs. However, invasive fungal infections of internal organs sometimes do occur. These infections can be serious and, in some case, life-threatening.
Thankfully, there are many types of antifungal drugs. Depending on the type of infection, a different type of medication is prescribed. The main methods of administration are topical (applied on the skin), oral (swallowed as a pill or syrup), intravenous (injected into the bloodstream), and intravaginal pessaries (inserted into the vagina). Most antifungal agents work by damaging the cell wall of the fungus, which causes the fungi cell to die.
ANTIPARASITICS
Antiparasitics are a class of medications that treat parasitic diseases such as malaria.
The term parasite infestation refers to the attack of a host with multicellular or unicellular organisms. Such creatures may include: Helminths, Protozoa, Amoeba, and Ectoparasites (lice, insects, bugs, and ticks). Some of these parasites cause a parasitic disease meaning that they transfer a pathogenic bacteria or other sort of microorganism which causes the ailment. In other cases, the parasite itself produces certain poisons and discharges them into a host, thus causing the disease.
As for treatment, each class of antiparasitic drugs approaches and eliminates the pathogen in a different manner. For example, the most widely used drug for malaria is Chloroquine. Chloroquine causes the buildup of a toxic molecule called heme inside the parasite and blocks DNA synthesis. Other medications, like Nitazoxanide work by disrupting the anaerobic metabolism that parasites need to make energy.
OVERVIEW: Comparative Points
