| • | structurally related to P-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) |
include:
| • | sulfadiazine (silver sulfadiazine – topical, prevent colonization of burns or wounds) |
| • | sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) |
| • | sulfasalazine (not absorbed, therefore treats Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis) |
| • | sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine (treat toxoplasmosis) |
antimicrobial mechanism of action:
| • | bacteria cannot absorb folic acid and rely on their ability to synthesize folic acid from PABA and pteridine |
adverse effects:
| • | hemolytic anemia with G6PD deficiency |
| • | kernicterus – displaces bilirubin from its binding site on albumin |
allergy:
| • | people who are "sulfa" allergic have only a 10% cross-reactivity to sulfone's (like dapsone) |
|