Lippincott Chapter 43: Antiprotozoal Drugs

Question 1

43.1 After the acute infection, which of the following
medications is given to treat the asymptomatic
colonization state of E. histolytica?
A. Chloroquine.
B. Iodoquinol.
C. Metronidazole.
D. Primaquine.

Answer 1

Correct answer = B. Iodoquinol, diloxanide furoate, and
paromomycin are luminal amebicides that are usually
administered with mixed or systemic amebicides to treat the
asymptomatic colonization state. Chloroquine is a systemic
amebicide and an antimalarial. Metronidazole is a mixed
amebicide. Primaquine is an antimalarial.

Question 2

43.2 A group of college students are traveling to a
chloroquine-resistant malaria area for a mission trip.
Which of the following medications can be used for both
prevention and treatment of malaria in these students?
A. Pyrimethamine.
B. Artemisinin.
C. Atovaquone–proguanil.
D. Melarsoprol.

Answer 2

Correct answer = C. The combination of atovaquone–
proguanil has been used for both prevention and treatment
of malaria in chloroquine-resistant areas. Pyrimethamine is
not recommended for prophylaxis of malaria. Artemisinin
and its derivatives are not used for prophylaxis, only treat-
ment of malaria. Melarsoprol is used for the treatment of
African sleeping sickness.

Question 3

43.3 Which of the following agents is available as an oral
therapy for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis?
A. Artemether/lumefantrine.
B. Miltefosine.
C. Nitazoxanide.
D. Tinidazole

Answer 3

Correct answer = B. Miltefosine is the only oral agent avail-
able for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis. All the other
drugs are orally administered, but artemether/lumefantrine
is used for the treatment of malaria, nitazoxanide is used for
the treatment of giardiasis or cryptosporidiosis, and tinida-
zole is effective for amebiasis or giardiasis.

Question 4

43.4 An 18-year-old male is diagnosed with Chagas disease.
Which medication would be the best for this patient?
A. Nifurtimox.
B. Suramin.
C. Sodium stibogluconate.
D. Metronidazole.

Answer 4

Correct answer = A. Nifurtimox is indicated for the treat-
ment of American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease)
caused by T. cruzi. Suramin is used for the treatment of
first-stage African trypanosomiasis due to T. brucei rhod-
esiense. Sodium stibogluconate is used for the treatment
of leishmaniasis. Metronidazole is used for the treatment of
amebiasis and giardiasi