Chapter 20, Problem 1A

Summary Introduction

To analyze:

Antimicrobial drugs which can affect human cells should be explained.

Given:

Antimicrobial drugs, namely penicillin, idinavir, erythromycin and polymyxin.

Introduction:

Drugs that are used to treat microbial infections are commonly referred as antimicrobial agents. Antimicrobial agents differs in its mode of action which includes inhibition of cell wall, inhibition of protein and nucleic acid synthesis, and inhibition of essential metabolites synthesis. Based on the microbe inhibited, they are grouped as antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral drugs. Such antimicrobial agents must not intervene with the host metabolism.