Introduction
The drugs used in this experiment are Chloramphenicol and rifampicin. Both of these drugs are antibiotics however their methods of action are quite different. These drugs have different effects on the bacteria they are being used against. Rifampicin is a bactericidal drug and chloramphenicol is bacteriostatic. Bactericidal drugs interfere with the bacteria to such an extent that the bacteria die. They not only prevent new cells from growing but also cause a crucial aspect of the cell division to stop operating which leads to death. Bacteriostatic drugs however only prevent new bacteria from growing and dividing. When used for a long enough period it will cause there to be no new bacteria so the immune system can take effect. In high doses these drugs may also have bactericidal effects. They prevent an aspect of the cell involved in growth from working but do not affect any part involved in cell division (2).
Chloramphenicol was first isolated in 1947 from the bacteria Streptomyces …show more content…
In high doses bone marrow suppression is observed and in neonates ‘grey baby syndrome’ is common. This is because neonates don’t have the necessary inactivating enzyme in the liver and toxic levels b accumulate in the body. It results in circulatory problems, flaccidity and vomiting. To avoid these effects chloramphenicol is often reserved for very severe cases where the more effective, less toxic alternative is not working. It is however used topically for bacterial conjunctivitis due to its broad-spectrum action and its ability to penetrate the tissues and fluids of the eye (3). Resistance to the drug can occur in large bacterial populations where some of the cells are less permeable to the drug however the more relevant form of resistance occurs when bacteria develop the ability to make chloramphenicol acetyl-transferase. This enzyme is encoded for on a plasmid and acts as a virulence factor
The drugs used in this experiment are Chloramphenicol and rifampicin. Both of these drugs are antibiotics however their methods of action are quite different. These drugs have different effects on the bacteria they are being used against. Rifampicin is a bactericidal drug and chloramphenicol is bacteriostatic. Bactericidal drugs interfere with the bacteria to such an extent that the bacteria die. They not only prevent new cells from growing but also cause a crucial aspect of the cell division to stop operating which leads to death. Bacteriostatic drugs however only prevent new bacteria from growing and dividing. When used for a long enough period it will cause there to be no new bacteria so the immune system can take effect. In high doses these drugs may also have bactericidal effects. They prevent an aspect of the cell involved in growth from working but do not affect any part involved in cell division (2).
Chloramphenicol was first isolated in 1947 from the bacteria Streptomyces …show more content…
In high doses bone marrow suppression is observed and in neonates ‘grey baby syndrome’ is common. This is because neonates don’t have the necessary inactivating enzyme in the liver and toxic levels b accumulate in the body. It results in circulatory problems, flaccidity and vomiting. To avoid these effects chloramphenicol is often reserved for very severe cases where the more effective, less toxic alternative is not working. It is however used topically for bacterial conjunctivitis due to its broad-spectrum action and its ability to penetrate the tissues and fluids of the eye (3). Resistance to the drug can occur in large bacterial populations where some of the cells are less permeable to the drug however the more relevant form of resistance occurs when bacteria develop the ability to make chloramphenicol acetyl-transferase. This enzyme is encoded for on a plasmid and acts as a virulence factor