12
Antiprotozoal agents
Learning objectives
Upon completion of this chapter, you should be able to:
1.
Outline the life cycle of the protozoan that causes malaria.
2.
Describe the therapeutic actions, indications, pharmacokinetics, contraindications, proper administration,
most common adverse reactions and important drug–drug interactions associated with drugs used to treat
malaria.
3.
Describe other common protozoal infections, including cause and clinical presentation.
4.
Compare and contrast the antimalarials with other drugs used to treat protozoal infections.
5.
Outline the care considerations for individuals receiving an antiprotozoal agent across the lifespan.
Glossary of key terms
amoebiasis:
amoebic dysentery, which is caused by intestinal invasion of the trophozoite stage of the protozoan
Entamoeba histolytica
Anopheles
mosquito:
type of mosquito that is essential to the life cycle of
Plasmodium
;
injects the protozoa into humans for further
maturation
cinchonism:
syndrome of quinine toxicity characterised by nausea, vomiting, tinnitus and vertigo
giardiasis:
protozoal intestinal infection that causes severe diarrhoea and epigastric distress; may lead to serious malnutrition
leishmaniasis:
skin, mucous membrane or visceral infection caused by a protozoan passed to humans by the bites of sand flies
malaria:
protozoal infection with
Plasmodium
, characterised by cyclic fever and chills as the parasite is released from ruptured red
blood cells; causes serious liver, CNS, heart and lung damage
Plasmodium
:
a protozoan that causes malaria in humans; its life cycle includes the
Anopheles
mosquito, which injects protozoa into
humans
Pneumocystis carinii
pneumonia (PCP):
opportunistic infection that occurs when the immune system is depressed; a frequent cause
of pneumonia in people with AIDS and in those who are receiving immunosuppressive therapy
protozoa:
single-celled organisms that pass through several stages in their life cycle, including at least one phase as a human parasite;
found in areas of poor sanitation and hygiene and crowded living conditions
trichomoniasis:
infestation with a protozoan that causes vaginitis in women but no signs or symptoms in men
trophozoite:
a developing stage of a parasite, which uses the host for essential nutrients needed for growth
trypanosomiasis:
African sleeping sickness, which is caused by a protozoan that inflames the CNS and is spread to humans by the bite
of the tsetse fly; also, Chagas disease, which causes a serious cardiomyopathy after the bite of the house fly
Test your current knowledge of antiprotozoal agents with a PrepU Practice Quiz!
ANTIMALARIALS
artemether-lumefantrine
doxycycline
hydroxychloroquine
mefloquine
primaquine
quinine
OTHER ANTIPROTOZOALS
atovaquone
metronidazole
pentamidine
pyrimethamine
tinidazole
