NR 293 Pharm-Exam 1 Study Questions with Correct Answers Latest Update 2025/2026
What are the more common categories of antibiotic types?
(Mnemonic: Some People Can Make Quick Angry Tatertots) - Answers Sulfonamides, penicillins,
cephalosporins, macrolides, quinolones, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines.
(Text, pg 604)
What are the 4 most common mechanisms of antibiotic action? - Answers 1). Interference with
bacterial wall synthesis
2). Interference with protein synthesis
3). Interference with replication of nucleic acids
4). Antimetabolite action that disrupts critical metabolic reactions inside the cell
(Text, pg 604)
What should be taken prior to the administration of an antibiotic if possible? - Answers A culture
(blood, sputum, wound, etc.)
-A broad spectrum antibiotic can then be administered following the sample collection (empiric
therapy) until the culture is grown, and can identify the strain of bacterial infection. The
antibiotic can then be switched to a different type that is more specific to the treatment of that
particular infection strain (definitive therapy).
(PP Slide 13)
What is meant by the term "Empiric therapy" in regards to antibiotic therapy? - Answers
Treatment of an infection before specific culture information has been reported or obtained.
(PP Slide 13)
What is meant by "Definitive therapy" in regards to antibiotic therapy? - Answers Antibiotic
therapy tailored to treat organism identified with cultures
(PP Slide 13)
What is meant by "Prophylactic therapy" in regards to antibiotic treatment? - Answers Treatment
with antibiotics to prevent an infection such as those received before and after surgeries and
traumatic injuries.
What is a therapeutic response to antibiotic therapy? What are some indications of this? -
Answers It means the antibiotic is working correctly. This is indicated by decreases in specific
s/s of the noted infection (fever decreasing, elevated WBC counts returning to normal levels,
resolution of redness, inflammation decrease, drainage cessation, pain reduction)
, What is a subtherapeutic response? - Answers S/S of the infection do not improve with
antibiotic therapy
What is a superinfection? - Answers This can occur as a result of an antibiotic dropping the
levels of the normal flora, or killing them completely. When these are killed off, other non-
normative body flora begin to grow and cause an infection. (Ex: a vaginal yeast infection)
What is Pseudomembranous colitis? - Answers This is a type of superinfection that tends to
have a higher level of severity. It is better known as Clostridium Difficile, or commonly C. Diff.
-This is brought on by the elimination of normal gut flora which is then replaced by the C.Diff
bacteria.
- The most common s/s is watery foul smelling diarrhea occurring frequently, fever, abdominal
pain and cramping.
What is a secondary infection? - Answers A type of superinfection as well. It occurs when a
second infection closely follows the initial infection, and comes from an external source.
What is meant by "host-factors" in regards to antibiotic therapy? - Answers Important factors
that pertain to the patient specifically. Examples can include age, history, allergies, pregnancy,
kidney and liver function, site of infection, host defense mechanisms (immunocompromisation)
Drugs that cause developmental abnormalities in the fetus of a pregnant woman taking them
are known as what? - Answers Teratogens
Some patients have certain genetic abnormalities that result in various enzyme deficiencies.
Name two of the more common ones. - Answers -Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)
-Slow acetylation
Explain slow acetylation - Answers These type of patients have a physiologic makeup that
causes certain drugs to be metabolized more slowly than usual in a chemical step known as
acetylation. This can lead to toxicity from drug accumulation.
Explain what may occur if a person is administered antibiotics such as sulfonamides,
nitrofurantoin, or dapsone to a person with G6PD? - Answers Hemolysis (destruction of red
blood cells)
Sulfonamides are one of the first drugs used as antibiotics. Although there are many
compounds in this family, only one of them is commonly used in clinical practice. What is it? -
Answers Sulfamethoxazole combined with trimethoprim.
-Commonly known as Bactrim, Septra, or co-trimoxazole. Often abbreviated as SMZ-TMP. It is
also commonly combined with erythromycin (macrolide) for pediatric patients.
-Sulfasalazine is another form which is used to treat ulcerative colitis and RA, but not as an
What are the more common categories of antibiotic types?
(Mnemonic: Some People Can Make Quick Angry Tatertots) - Answers Sulfonamides, penicillins,
cephalosporins, macrolides, quinolones, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines.
(Text, pg 604)
What are the 4 most common mechanisms of antibiotic action? - Answers 1). Interference with
bacterial wall synthesis
2). Interference with protein synthesis
3). Interference with replication of nucleic acids
4). Antimetabolite action that disrupts critical metabolic reactions inside the cell
(Text, pg 604)
What should be taken prior to the administration of an antibiotic if possible? - Answers A culture
(blood, sputum, wound, etc.)
-A broad spectrum antibiotic can then be administered following the sample collection (empiric
therapy) until the culture is grown, and can identify the strain of bacterial infection. The
antibiotic can then be switched to a different type that is more specific to the treatment of that
particular infection strain (definitive therapy).
(PP Slide 13)
What is meant by the term "Empiric therapy" in regards to antibiotic therapy? - Answers
Treatment of an infection before specific culture information has been reported or obtained.
(PP Slide 13)
What is meant by "Definitive therapy" in regards to antibiotic therapy? - Answers Antibiotic
therapy tailored to treat organism identified with cultures
(PP Slide 13)
What is meant by "Prophylactic therapy" in regards to antibiotic treatment? - Answers Treatment
with antibiotics to prevent an infection such as those received before and after surgeries and
traumatic injuries.
What is a therapeutic response to antibiotic therapy? What are some indications of this? -
Answers It means the antibiotic is working correctly. This is indicated by decreases in specific
s/s of the noted infection (fever decreasing, elevated WBC counts returning to normal levels,
resolution of redness, inflammation decrease, drainage cessation, pain reduction)
, What is a subtherapeutic response? - Answers S/S of the infection do not improve with
antibiotic therapy
What is a superinfection? - Answers This can occur as a result of an antibiotic dropping the
levels of the normal flora, or killing them completely. When these are killed off, other non-
normative body flora begin to grow and cause an infection. (Ex: a vaginal yeast infection)
What is Pseudomembranous colitis? - Answers This is a type of superinfection that tends to
have a higher level of severity. It is better known as Clostridium Difficile, or commonly C. Diff.
-This is brought on by the elimination of normal gut flora which is then replaced by the C.Diff
bacteria.
- The most common s/s is watery foul smelling diarrhea occurring frequently, fever, abdominal
pain and cramping.
What is a secondary infection? - Answers A type of superinfection as well. It occurs when a
second infection closely follows the initial infection, and comes from an external source.
What is meant by "host-factors" in regards to antibiotic therapy? - Answers Important factors
that pertain to the patient specifically. Examples can include age, history, allergies, pregnancy,
kidney and liver function, site of infection, host defense mechanisms (immunocompromisation)
Drugs that cause developmental abnormalities in the fetus of a pregnant woman taking them
are known as what? - Answers Teratogens
Some patients have certain genetic abnormalities that result in various enzyme deficiencies.
Name two of the more common ones. - Answers -Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)
-Slow acetylation
Explain slow acetylation - Answers These type of patients have a physiologic makeup that
causes certain drugs to be metabolized more slowly than usual in a chemical step known as
acetylation. This can lead to toxicity from drug accumulation.
Explain what may occur if a person is administered antibiotics such as sulfonamides,
nitrofurantoin, or dapsone to a person with G6PD? - Answers Hemolysis (destruction of red
blood cells)
Sulfonamides are one of the first drugs used as antibiotics. Although there are many
compounds in this family, only one of them is commonly used in clinical practice. What is it? -
Answers Sulfamethoxazole combined with trimethoprim.
-Commonly known as Bactrim, Septra, or co-trimoxazole. Often abbreviated as SMZ-TMP. It is
also commonly combined with erythromycin (macrolide) for pediatric patients.
-Sulfasalazine is another form which is used to treat ulcerative colitis and RA, but not as an
