title: The essential features of microorganisms and the rationale for antimicrobial therapy.
abstract: Antimicrobial agents have had a major impact on the control of most bacterial diseases; however, viral, fungal, protozoal and helminthic diseases have generally been less amenable to drug therapy. The reason for this lies in the different structural and physiological features that each group of microorganisms have. This article will outline the basic features of the various types of microorganisms, and relate these to the mode of action of commonly used antimicrobial agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield.
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Douglas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D014780:Viruses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents