Sulfadiazine

Definition

Sulfadiazine is a sulfonamide antibiotic used to treat various bacterial infections by inhibiting the synthesis of folic acid in bacteria. It is often combined with other drugs to enhance its efficacy.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Sulfadiazine acts by inhibiting the enzyme dihydropteroate synthase, crucial for bacterial folic acid synthesis.
2. It is commonly used in combination with pyrimethamine to treat toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection.
3. Sulfadiazine can cross the blood-brain barrier, making it effective in treating certain central nervous system infections.
4. It is less effective against fungal infections as fungi do not rely on folic acid synthesis in the same way as bacteria.
5. Patients allergic to sulfa drugs should avoid sulfadiazine due to potential hypersensitivity reactions.

Review Questions

• What enzyme does sulfadiazine inhibit to exert its antimicrobial effects?
• Why is sulfadiazine often combined with pyrimethamine for treating toxoplasmosis?
• Can sulfadiazine be used to treat fungal infections? Why or why not?

Related terms

Pyrimethamine: An antiparasitic drug that inhibits dihydrofolate reductase, often used alongside sulfadiazine.

Sulfonamides: A group of antibiotics that inhibit folic acid synthesis in bacteria by targeting dihydropteroate synthase.

Toxoplasmosis: A parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, often treated with a combination of sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine.