NCLEX-style Questions: Antiviral &
Antifungal Medications
150Qs&A/Rationale (2025/2026)
1. Acyclovir is primarily used to treat which infections?
A. Influenza
B. HIV
C. Herpes simplex and varicella-zoster
D. Hepatitis C
Answer: C
Rationale: Acyclovir is active against herpes simplex virus (HSV)
and varicella-zoster virus (VZV).
2. Which antiviral is the drug of choice for influenza A and B?
A. Acyclovir
B. Ribavirin
C. Oseltamivir
D. Ganciclovir
Answer: C
Rationale: Oseltamivir is effective against both influenza A and B
by inhibiting neuraminidase.
3. The mechanism of action of acyclovir involves:
A. Inhibition of neuraminidase
B. Inhibition of viral DNA polymerase
C. Blocking viral entry
D. Inhibiting reverse transcriptase
Answer: B
Rationale: Acyclovir selectively inhibits viral DNA polymerase,
preventing viral DNA replication.
,4. Which antifungal is first-line treatment for most cases of oral
candidiasis?
A. Amphotericin B
B. Terbinafine
C. Nystatin
D. Caspofungin
Answer: C
Rationale: Nystatin is commonly used topically for oral Candida
infections.
5. Fluconazole is most commonly used to treat:
A. Aspergillosis
B. Candidiasis
C. Mucormycosis
D. Dermatophytosis refractory cases only
Answer: B
Rationale: Fluconazole is highly effective against Candida species
and is widely used for candidiasis.
6. Which antifungal works by binding to ergosterol and disrupting
fungal cell membranes?
A. Fluconazole
B. Caspofungin
C. Amphotericin B
D. Flucytosine
Answer: C
Rationale: Amphotericin B binds ergosterol, causing increased
membrane permeability and fungal cell death.
7. Which antiviral drug is used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis
B?
A. Lamivudine
, B. Oseltamivir
C. Acyclovir
D. Zanamivir
Answer: A
Rationale: Lamivudine is a nucleoside analog used in chronic
hepatitis B therapy.
8. Which antifungal class inhibits ergosterol synthesis by blocking
lanosterol 14-alpha-demethylase?
A. Polyenes
B. Azoles
C. Echinocandins
D. Allylamines
Answer: B
Rationale: Azoles inhibit lanosterol demethylase, blocking
ergosterol synthesis.
9. What is a major dose-limiting toxicity of amphotericin B?
A. Hepatotoxicity
B. Ototoxicity
C. Nephrotoxicity
D. Neurotoxicity
Answer: C
Rationale: Amphotericin B is well known for causing dose-
dependent kidney damage.
10. Valacyclovir is a prodrug of:
A. Ganciclovir
B. Acyclovir
C. Zidovudine
D. Ribavirin
Answer: B
, Rationale: Valacyclovir is converted to acyclovir in the body to
improve oral bioavailability.
11. Which antifungal is preferred for systemic Aspergillus
infections?
A. Fluconazole
B. Itraconazole
C. Voriconazole
D. Nystatin
Answer: C
Rationale: Voriconazole is first-line therapy for invasive
aspergillosis.
12. Which antiviral is used for cytomegalovirus (CMV)
infections?
A. Acyclovir
B. Ganciclovir
C. Oseltamivir
D. Ribavirin
Answer: B
Rationale: Ganciclovir is the primary treatment for CMV
infections.
13. Nystatin is NOT effective for which type of infection?
A. Oral candidiasis
B. Cutaneous candidiasis
C. Systemic fungal infections
D. Vaginal candidiasis
Answer: C
Rationale: Nystatin is not absorbed systemically and cannot
treat systemic infections.
Antifungal Medications
150Qs&A/Rationale (2025/2026)
1. Acyclovir is primarily used to treat which infections?
A. Influenza
B. HIV
C. Herpes simplex and varicella-zoster
D. Hepatitis C
Answer: C
Rationale: Acyclovir is active against herpes simplex virus (HSV)
and varicella-zoster virus (VZV).
2. Which antiviral is the drug of choice for influenza A and B?
A. Acyclovir
B. Ribavirin
C. Oseltamivir
D. Ganciclovir
Answer: C
Rationale: Oseltamivir is effective against both influenza A and B
by inhibiting neuraminidase.
3. The mechanism of action of acyclovir involves:
A. Inhibition of neuraminidase
B. Inhibition of viral DNA polymerase
C. Blocking viral entry
D. Inhibiting reverse transcriptase
Answer: B
Rationale: Acyclovir selectively inhibits viral DNA polymerase,
preventing viral DNA replication.
,4. Which antifungal is first-line treatment for most cases of oral
candidiasis?
A. Amphotericin B
B. Terbinafine
C. Nystatin
D. Caspofungin
Answer: C
Rationale: Nystatin is commonly used topically for oral Candida
infections.
5. Fluconazole is most commonly used to treat:
A. Aspergillosis
B. Candidiasis
C. Mucormycosis
D. Dermatophytosis refractory cases only
Answer: B
Rationale: Fluconazole is highly effective against Candida species
and is widely used for candidiasis.
6. Which antifungal works by binding to ergosterol and disrupting
fungal cell membranes?
A. Fluconazole
B. Caspofungin
C. Amphotericin B
D. Flucytosine
Answer: C
Rationale: Amphotericin B binds ergosterol, causing increased
membrane permeability and fungal cell death.
7. Which antiviral drug is used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis
B?
A. Lamivudine
, B. Oseltamivir
C. Acyclovir
D. Zanamivir
Answer: A
Rationale: Lamivudine is a nucleoside analog used in chronic
hepatitis B therapy.
8. Which antifungal class inhibits ergosterol synthesis by blocking
lanosterol 14-alpha-demethylase?
A. Polyenes
B. Azoles
C. Echinocandins
D. Allylamines
Answer: B
Rationale: Azoles inhibit lanosterol demethylase, blocking
ergosterol synthesis.
9. What is a major dose-limiting toxicity of amphotericin B?
A. Hepatotoxicity
B. Ototoxicity
C. Nephrotoxicity
D. Neurotoxicity
Answer: C
Rationale: Amphotericin B is well known for causing dose-
dependent kidney damage.
10. Valacyclovir is a prodrug of:
A. Ganciclovir
B. Acyclovir
C. Zidovudine
D. Ribavirin
Answer: B
, Rationale: Valacyclovir is converted to acyclovir in the body to
improve oral bioavailability.
11. Which antifungal is preferred for systemic Aspergillus
infections?
A. Fluconazole
B. Itraconazole
C. Voriconazole
D. Nystatin
Answer: C
Rationale: Voriconazole is first-line therapy for invasive
aspergillosis.
12. Which antiviral is used for cytomegalovirus (CMV)
infections?
A. Acyclovir
B. Ganciclovir
C. Oseltamivir
D. Ribavirin
Answer: B
Rationale: Ganciclovir is the primary treatment for CMV
infections.
13. Nystatin is NOT effective for which type of infection?
A. Oral candidiasis
B. Cutaneous candidiasis
C. Systemic fungal infections
D. Vaginal candidiasis
Answer: C
Rationale: Nystatin is not absorbed systemically and cannot
treat systemic infections.
