Categorization of Antimicrobial Agents

Answer

Categorization of Antimicrobial Agents

An antimicrobial agent is defined as any chemical and physical compound that either kills or stops the development of microorganisms. The agents disrupt the reproduction and growth of causative organisms such as parasites, protozoans, virus, bacteria and fungi. The invention of antibiotic penicillin in the 1940s was a big move towards the development and reformation of modern antimicrobial therapy (Tanwar, Das, Fatima, & Hameed, 2014). This was a relief to patients who initially had few treatment options. Available alternatives for treating bacterial infections could at times result to death or amputation of limbs. Modernity has helped find a positive prognosis where medics only have to identify the underlying causes of infection. This could be either viral or bacterial. This helps in recommending the most appropriate treatment. It is upon this basis that this paper considers appropriate use of antimicrobial agents for infections. The focuses on three major areas: description of categories of antimicrobial agents, differences between bacterial and viral infections and finally, an explanation on why proper identification of infections is quintessential in selecting a proper antimicrobial agent.

Categories of Antimicrobial Agents

Antimicrobial agents can be classified into physical and chemical compounds. The main classes of antimicrobial agents with chemical compounds include antibacterial drugs. They are used to inhibit and stop pathogenic activities caused by bacteria. An example is Zithromax. These are commonly used for bacterial infections because of their low toxicity levels. However, prolonged use could reduce their effectiveness. Antifungal drugs are used to destroy and prevent fungal activities in the host. An example is Miconazole (Tanwar et al., 2014). These drugs treat infections such as thrush and ringworms. They do not have dangerous side effects on the host but if misused, the effects can be life-threatening. The third, antiviral agents are drugs that stop pathogenic action caused by viruses. An example is Tamiflu. Specific antiviral drugs are used to fight specific viruses. They are effective in treating infections since they are relatively harmless to the host. The fourth category is antiparasitic drugs which are used to prevent the growth or spread of pathogenic parasites. An example is Anthelmintics. On the other hand, physical compounds that act as antimicrobial agents include heat and radiations. In particular, heat helps in drying moist areas thus eliminating microbial (Gyawali & Ibrahim, 2014). It is used in processes such as pasteurization to destroy microbes. Radiations are important in killing pathogens. Such compounds are used in food sterilization.

Differences between Viral and Bacterial Infections

Both bacterial and viruses cause either mild or serious infections. As much as this is the case, it is important to differentiate them by understanding viral and bacterial infections. Depending on the type of infection identified, they have to be treated differently. Ventola (2015) notes that misusing drugs such as antibiotics in treating viral infections is the leading cause of antibiotic resistance among patients. Bacteria and viruses can be differentiated using a microscope or by analyzing the symptoms on the host. Gyawali and Ibrahim (2014) clarify that bacteria are complex and appear as single-celled structures confined in a rigid wall. They have a thin and rubbery membrane that hold fluids within the cell. Bacteria reproduce on their own. They can survive in different environments ranging from cold to hot environment, in the human body or radioactive wastes. Some bacteria are harmless to the hosts and could, in fact, be helpful in digesting food, fighting cancer cells, providing nutrients and destroying disease-causing microbes. Less than 1% of bacteria cause diseases in the hosts. Common bacterial infections include tuberculosis, strep throat and urinary tract infections.

Viruses occur in tinier forms than bacteria. They are smaller and thrive in living hosts including animals, plants and people. Viruses cannot survive without a living host. They multiply rapidly to ensure that they survive. Upon entry into the body of the host, viruses invade cells and redirect them to produce viruses. Viruses can also turn cells into cancerous and malignant cells. Unlike bacteria, they have a genetic material such as DNA or RNA and a protein coat (Gyawali & Ibrahim 2014). Most viruses cause diseases in their host. They attack specific cells, for instance, they could target blood, respiratory system or liver among others. There are cases where viruses target and fight bacteria. Common diseases caused by viruses include AIDs, common colds and chickenpox.

Proper Identification of Bacterial and Viral Infections

Medics have to select and administer proper antimicrobial agent to fight the right microbes. It is necessary that a medic understands key symptoms associated with viruses and bacteria. The development of modern technologies has eased the identification and differentiation of the two. Unfortunately, bacteria are adaptable and can easily mutate. This is the reason for increased abuse of antibiotics leading to resistance (Ventola 2015). Leading pharmacists and organizations have objected the use of antibiotics unless there is proper evidence of such infections. On the other hand, vaccines are used to treat viruses. Modern vaccines are being developed to prevent and reduce the number of new infections of infections such as HIV, measles, chickenpox and polio. In spite of this, treating viruses is challenging because of their tiny structure. Their ability to reproduce within cells makes them hard to target. Antiviral medications also lead to mutation and development of microbes that are drug resistant (Tanwar et al., 2014). These arguments explain the importance of properly identifying bacterial and viral infections.

Conclusion

This essay has identified two categories of antimicrobial agents; chemical and physical. The chemical agents include; antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and anti-parasitic drugs while physical agents are radiations and heat. The main differences between virus and bacteria are noted in their structure and form, as well as effects on the human body. The essay has also addressed the risk of drug resistance which reinforces the need for proper discernment of viruses from bacteria to aid in proper prognosis and treatment.