Question

The nursing student correctly identifies the class of drugs that exerts their bactericidal effect by interfering with the synthesis of bacterial DNA, thus preventing cell reproduction and leading to death of the bacteria, as which of the following groups?

Answer 1

Quinonoles/Fluoroquinolones

Step-by-step explanation:

Antibiotics are sometimes referred to as antibacterials. They are substances that kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria. There are different criteria for classifying antibacterials including origin, chemical structure, range and effects of activities, routes of administration and mode of action. based on the latter, the classes of antibacterial that exist include

1. those that operates by inhibiting cell wall synthesis in bacteria. This include penicillin, bacitracin, vancomycin and several others. Once cell wall cannot be synthesized, the bacterial cells eventually die off because the protective function of the cell wall is absent.
2. those that operate by inhibiting the process of protein synthesis in bacteria. Protein synthesis is essential for cell division and continuity of life and once this process is inhibited, bacterial cells will not be able to reproduce and eventually die at the end of their growth cycle. Examples include aminoglycosides, streptomycin, tetracycline and many others.
3. those that operate by inhibiting nucleic acid synthesis. Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) synthesis is essential for cell division and continuity of life just like protein synthesis. Example of antibacterial that inhibit RNA synthesis include Rifampicin while the one that inhibits DNA synthesis include quinolones and their fluoroquinolone derivatives.