Antibacterial Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Antibacterial - Essay Example Their benefit in the medical field and personal hygiene notwithstanding, antimicrobial exhibit certain side effects. Introduction Antibacterial are host of compounds or substances that inhibit or retard the growth of bacteria. They belong to a larger family of compounds known as antimicrobials among which are antifungal and antiviral compounds. Chemically, antibacterial can be isolated from living organisms, obtained by chemical modification of natural compounds or synthesized (Von Nussbaum, 2006). Aminoglycosides, such as streptomycin, are classes of antibacterials that are isolated from living systems. Compounds, such as sulfonamides, that have antibacterial property are obtained solely by chemical synthesis. Semi-synthetic modification of natural compounds also yield antibacterial compounds such as penicillin. The biological activity of antibacterials differs. Some function by killing the target bacteria as in bactericidal agents, while others slow down the growth or reproduction of the bacteria as in bacteriostatic agents (Calderon and Sabundayo, 2007). Bactericidal agents are further grouped as bactericidal disinfectants, bactericidal antiseptic, and bactericidal antibiotics. Several factors, which include the host defense mechanism, the location of the infection, and the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the antibacterial, affect the outcome of antibacterial therapy with antibacterial compound (Pankey and Sabeth, 2004). The concentration of the antibacterial also affects its biological activity of antibacterials, thus in vitro characterization of antibacterial activity commonly includes the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of the antibacterial agent being investigated. To ascertain the drug efficacy of an antibacterial, its antibacterial activity is usually combined with its pharmacokinetic profile, and results of other pharmacological parameters obtained during clinical studies. Mode of action of antibacterials The mode of action of antibacterial differs; indeed, this difference offers a criterion for classification of antibacterials as either bactericidal or bacteriostatic. Some bactericidal agents, such as penicillin, target the bacterial cell wall, while some, for example polymixins, disrupt cell membrane, and another group of bactericidal agents, for instance sulfonamides, interfere with essential bacterial enzymes (Calderon and Sabundayo, 2007). Antibacterial agents that are bacteriostatic in action, such as tetracyclines, target protein synthesis and eventually slow down the growth or reproduction of the bacteria (Calderon and Sabundayo, 2007). Bactericidal agents have found use as disinfectants, antiseptics and antibiotics. For instance, chloroxylenol, a phenolic, is the active antibacterial ingredient in Dettol (Acenzi, 1996), a household disinfectant and antiseptic. Figure 1. Chemical structure of chloroxylenol Chloroxylenol functions by disrupting the cell membrane potential of bacteria. Potassium permanganate, KmnO4, is a strong oxidizing agent that has find application as an antibacterial agent. It is used as antiseptic and disinfectant for treating aquariums and swimming pools. Mere exposure of KmnO4 to sunlight yields oxygen through its decomposition. 2 KMnO4(s) > K2MnO4(s) + MnO2(s) + O2(g) The oxygen oxidizes the cell membrane of the bacteria resulting in the loss of structure and ultimately, cell lysis and death of the bacteria.