Goodman & Gilman’s The Pharmacological
Basis of Therapeutics, 14th Edition
Section VII – Chemotherapy of Infectious
Diseases
Chapter 56: General Principles of Antimicrobial
Therapy
No content, terminology, or clinical inference extends beyond
what is stated or directly implied in this chapter.
Chapter 56 — General Principles of Antimicrobial Therapy
High-Yield Nursing Pharmacology MCQs (20 Questions)
1.
Which antimicrobial property most directly explains why
bactericidal agents are preferred in severely
immunocompromised patients?
A. Longer elimination half-life
B. Ability to inhibit protein synthesis
C. Direct killing of microorganisms independent of host
immunity
D. Lower likelihood of drug resistance
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Bactericidal drugs directly kill microorganisms, whereas
bacteriostatic drugs rely on host immune defenses to clear
inhibited organisms. In immunocompromised patients, host
immunity is insufficient, making bactericidal agents preferable.
Citation: Goodman & Gilman, 14th ed., Ch. 56 – General
Principles of Antimicrobial Therapy
2.
The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of an
antimicrobial agent is defined as:
A. The drug concentration that eradicates all bacteria in vivo
B. The lowest concentration that inhibits visible microbial
growth in vitro
C. The peak plasma concentration after standard dosing
D. The concentration required to prevent resistance
development
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
MIC is an in vitro measure representing the lowest antimicrobial
concentration that inhibits visible growth of a microorganism
under standardized laboratory conditions.
Citation: Goodman & Gilman, 14th ed., Ch. 56
,3.
Which factor most strongly influences antimicrobial penetration
into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?
A. Hepatic metabolism
B. Plasma protein binding
C. Integrity of the blood–brain barrier
D. Renal tubular secretion
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
The integrity of the blood–brain barrier is a major determinant
of antimicrobial entry into CSF, with inflammation often
increasing penetration.
Citation: Goodman & Gilman, 14th ed., Ch. 56
4.
Time-dependent killing of bacteria is best described by which
dosing principle?
A. Achieving high peak concentrations
B. Maintaining drug levels above the MIC for an extended
duration
C. Rapid renal elimination
D. Post-antibiotic effect prolongation
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
For time-dependent antimicrobials, efficacy correlates with the
duration that drug concentrations remain above the MIC rather
than peak levels.
Citation: Goodman & Gilman, 14th ed., Ch. 56
5.
Which statement best describes concentration-dependent
antimicrobial killing?
A. Efficacy depends on dosing frequency
B. Bacterial killing increases with higher drug concentrations
C. Activity requires continuous infusion
D. Therapeutic effect is unrelated to MIC
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Concentration-dependent antimicrobials exhibit increased
bactericidal activity as drug concentrations rise relative to the
MIC.
Citation: Goodman & Gilman, 14th ed., Ch. 56
6.
The post-antibiotic effect (PAE) refers to:
Basis of Therapeutics, 14th Edition
Section VII – Chemotherapy of Infectious
Diseases
Chapter 56: General Principles of Antimicrobial
Therapy
No content, terminology, or clinical inference extends beyond
what is stated or directly implied in this chapter.
Chapter 56 — General Principles of Antimicrobial Therapy
High-Yield Nursing Pharmacology MCQs (20 Questions)
1.
Which antimicrobial property most directly explains why
bactericidal agents are preferred in severely
immunocompromised patients?
A. Longer elimination half-life
B. Ability to inhibit protein synthesis
C. Direct killing of microorganisms independent of host
immunity
D. Lower likelihood of drug resistance
,Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Bactericidal drugs directly kill microorganisms, whereas
bacteriostatic drugs rely on host immune defenses to clear
inhibited organisms. In immunocompromised patients, host
immunity is insufficient, making bactericidal agents preferable.
Citation: Goodman & Gilman, 14th ed., Ch. 56 – General
Principles of Antimicrobial Therapy
2.
The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of an
antimicrobial agent is defined as:
A. The drug concentration that eradicates all bacteria in vivo
B. The lowest concentration that inhibits visible microbial
growth in vitro
C. The peak plasma concentration after standard dosing
D. The concentration required to prevent resistance
development
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
MIC is an in vitro measure representing the lowest antimicrobial
concentration that inhibits visible growth of a microorganism
under standardized laboratory conditions.
Citation: Goodman & Gilman, 14th ed., Ch. 56
,3.
Which factor most strongly influences antimicrobial penetration
into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?
A. Hepatic metabolism
B. Plasma protein binding
C. Integrity of the blood–brain barrier
D. Renal tubular secretion
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
The integrity of the blood–brain barrier is a major determinant
of antimicrobial entry into CSF, with inflammation often
increasing penetration.
Citation: Goodman & Gilman, 14th ed., Ch. 56
4.
Time-dependent killing of bacteria is best described by which
dosing principle?
A. Achieving high peak concentrations
B. Maintaining drug levels above the MIC for an extended
duration
C. Rapid renal elimination
D. Post-antibiotic effect prolongation
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
For time-dependent antimicrobials, efficacy correlates with the
duration that drug concentrations remain above the MIC rather
than peak levels.
Citation: Goodman & Gilman, 14th ed., Ch. 56
5.
Which statement best describes concentration-dependent
antimicrobial killing?
A. Efficacy depends on dosing frequency
B. Bacterial killing increases with higher drug concentrations
C. Activity requires continuous infusion
D. Therapeutic effect is unrelated to MIC
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Concentration-dependent antimicrobials exhibit increased
bactericidal activity as drug concentrations rise relative to the
MIC.
Citation: Goodman & Gilman, 14th ed., Ch. 56
6.
The post-antibiotic effect (PAE) refers to:
