Booklet Questions

Question 1

True or False: Penicillin G (benzylpenicillin) interferes with the peptidoglycan cell wall.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

True or False: An organism which is sensitive to an antibiotic will always be killed by it.

Answer 2

False - An organism is considered sensitive if it is killed or inhibited by levels of the antimicrobial available at the site of infection.

Question 3

True or False: An infection should ideally be treated with an antibiotic with a high MIC for the causative organism.

Answer 3

False - There are nationally agreed “cut offs” for MIC values below which an organism is considered ‘sensitive’ and above which it is considered ‘resistant’. In general, the higher the concentration of drug you give your patient, the higher likelihood there is of achieving toxicity.

Question 4

True or False: Amphotericin B acts against a wide range of bacteria.

Answer 4

False - Amphotericin B is an anti-fungal drug.

Question 5

True or False: Vancomycin and penicillin act on different stages of cell wall synthesis.

Answer 5

True

Question 6

True or False: Aminoglycosides act on DNA synthesis.

Answer 6

False - Aminoglycosides act on protein synthesis.

Question 7

True or False: Trimethoprim interferes with protein synthesis at the ribosomal level.

Answer 7

False - Trimethoprim interferes with purine synthesis.

Question 8

True or False: The differing ribosomes of mammalian and bacterial cells allow selective toxicity.

Answer 8

True

Question 9

True or False: Resistance of a known bacterial species to a known antibiotic can always be predicted on theoretical grounds.

Answer 9

False - You can not predict that a bacterial species will be resistant or sensitive to an antibiotic purely on theoretical grounds, sensitivity testing must be performed.

Question 10

True or False: All antibiotic resistance is caused by genes carried on plasmids.

Answer 10

False - They can also be carried on transposons (packets of DNA which insert themselves into the chromosome).

Question 11

True or False: All penicillins are inactivated by β-lactamase.

Answer 11

False - Flucloxacillin is resistant to the actions of β-lactamase.

Question 12

True or False: All Staph aureus strains are sensitive to flucloxacillin.

Answer 12

False

Question 13

True or False: Amoxicillin is a good choice for ‘blind’ treatment of severe infection with Gram negative coliforms.

Answer 13

False - 20-30% of coliform organisms are resistant to amoxicillin.

Question 14

True or False: Piperacillin has an extended spectrum and is active against Pseudomonas species.

Answer 14

True

Question 15

True or False: Penicillin allergic patients may also be allergic to cephalosporins.

Answer 15

True

Question 16

True or False: Vancomycin is only active against anaerobes.

Answer 16

False - Vancomycin is active against both aerobic and anaerobic organisms.

Question 17

True or False: Vancomycin is only active against Gram positive organisms.

Answer 17

True

Question 18

True or False: Third generation cephalosporins (e.g. ceftazidime) have better anti-Staphylococcal activity than the earlier cephalosporins.

Answer 18

False - Anti-Staphylococcal activity decreases proportionately from first through to third generation drugs.

Question 19

True or False: All antibiotic resistance is caused by β-lactamases.

Answer 19

False - There may also be genetically altered target sites (PBPs).

Question 20

True or False: Metronidazole is widely used to treat anaerobic infection.

Answer 20

True

Question 21

True or False: Gentamicin is associated with nephrotoxicity.

Answer 21

True

Question 22

True or False: Gentamicin is associated with ototoxicity.

Answer 22

True

Question 23

True or False: Pseudomembranous colitis usually results from Vancomycin treatment.

Answer 23

False - Pseudomembranous colitis is caused by clindamycin.

Question 24

True or False: Thrush is due to overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria during broad spectrum antibiotic therapy.

Answer 24

False - Thrush is due to overgrowth of yeasts.

Question 25

True or False: Serum levels of gentamicin and vancomycin can be monitored in the laboratory to minimise the risk of toxicity.

Answer 25

True

Question 26

True or False: Prophylaxis should be given before every operation.

Answer 26

False - Antibiotics should not be prescribed unless absolutely necessary.

Question 27

True or False: The use of two antibiotics is always more effective than monotherapy.

Answer 27

False - The simplest approach, i.e. monotherapy, is generally best.

Question 28

True or False: MIC and MBC determination is the most accurate way of determining an organism's antibiotic susceptibility.

Answer 28

True

Question 29

True or False: All infections can be adequately treated by seven days of the appropriate antibiotic therapy.

Answer 29

False - Some need less time, some need more.

Question 30

True or False: Antibiotic therapy should never be started before the results of laboratory sensitivity results are available.

Answer 30

False - Medical microbiologists often give advice on urgent treatment of infection before an organism is isolated, identified and its antibiotic sensitivity tested.

Question 31

True or False: Amphotericin B is the treatment of choice for all fungal infections.

Answer 31

False - Amphotericin B should only be used when clinically indicated.

Question 32

True or False: Amphotericin B treatment should not be started until laboratory sensitivity results are available.

Answer 32

False - Amphotericin B is used for serious systemic fungal infection.

Question 33

True or False: Intravenous nystatin is indicated for the treatment of serious fungal infection.

Answer 33

False - Nystatin is used topically or in oral suspension and is not an intravenous agent for serious fungal infection.

Question 34

True or False: Topical antifungal preparations can be used to treat fungal skin infections.

Answer 34

True

Question 35

True or False: Fluconazole is active against yeasts but not against filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus.

Answer 35

True

Question 36

True or False: Aciclovir is used to treat infection with all herpes viruses.

Answer 36

False

Question 37

True or False: All antiviral drugs act by inhibiting viral nucleic acid synthesis.

Answer 37

False

Question 38

True or False: Zidovudine (ZDV) alone is the best treatment for AIDS.

Answer 38

False

Question 39

True or False: Oseltamivir is widely used to treat hepatitis B infection.

Answer 39

False

Question 40

True or False: Aciclovir treatment abolishes carriage of herpes simplex virus.

Answer 40

False