TeachableMedicalNews article 10092020
Teachable moment in classrooms:
- chemical basis of life chapter – proteins are made of amino acids linked by peptide bonds
- cellular basis of life chapter – protein synthesis on ribosome
- respiratory system chapter – alveoli location and function
- immune system chapter – events during inflammation
- microbiology – bacterial resistance against antibiotics
The news item: Recently the news of a novel antibiotic was reported:
FDA approves new antibiotic for bacterial pneumonia
A new antibiotic has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. It’s called Xenleta and the FDA says it’s another treatment option to fight a common type of pneumonia.
The article states that the new antibiotic, Xenleta, is a pleuromutilin, and it fights community acquired bacterial pneumonia.
So, Why Do I Care??
Pneumonia is the reason for 1 million hospitalizations and 50,000 deaths each year in the US. Most pneumonia cases are caused by bacterial infections. Because this disease can get worse quickly, efficient treatment must include the killing of the bacteria that cause the disease. Any new antibiotic that can treat people whose pneumonia resists the regular antibiotics likely to save thousands of lives each year.
Plain English, Please!!!
First, let’s talk about what bacterial pneumonia is. When the deepest portion of our respiratory system, the alveoli (air sacks), are attacked by bacteria, the result is local