12.1 Introduction to Antimicrobial Medications
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you should be able to
- Describe the terms “antimicrobial medications,” “antibiotic medications,” and “antiviral medications”
- Identify the suffixes and prefixes used to identify categories of antibiotics
- Identify common antimicrobial medications by both generic and trade names
- Identify common antibiotic-resistant organisms (AROs)
- Explain basic concepts relating to antimicrobials and the emergence of AROs
Chapter Overview
Have you ever been prescribed an antibiotic for an infection and asked, “Why do I have to finish taking all these pills when I already feel better”? Or, perhaps you wondered why the healthcare provider chose a certain medication over another or why the pharmacist told you to avoid certain foods when taking a particular antibiotic.
You may have had these questions in your own healthcare experiences. It is important to remember that if you have these questions, many patients will as well. Learning about the various types of antimicrobials and how they work will help you provide better understanding of these medications to others.
Attribution
Unless otherwise indicated, material on this page has been adapted from the following resource:
Ernstmeyer, K., & Christman, E. (Eds.). (2020). Nursing pharmacology. Chippewa Valley Technical College. https://wtcs.pressbooks.pub/pharmacology/, licensed under CC BY 4.0
