NURS 8024 TEST 3 STUDY GUIDE |
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026
UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS.
SECTION 1: ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
Question 1
What is the mechanism of action of penicillin?
A) Inhibition of protein synthesis
B) Inhibition of DNA synthesis
C) Inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis
D) Inhibition of folic acid synthesis
Rationale: Penicillins (e.g., amoxicillin, ampicillin) inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis by
binding to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) and inhibiting transpeptidase, which is
essential for cross-linking peptidoglycan in the bacterial cell wall.
Question 2
Which class of antibiotics inhibits protein synthesis by binding to the 30S
ribosomal subunit?
,A) Macrolides
B) Chloramphenicol
C) Tetracyclines
D) Clindamycin
Rationale: Tetracyclines and aminoglycosides bind to the 30S ribosomal subunit to
inhibit protein synthesis . Macrolides, chloramphenicol, and clindamycin bind to the 50S
subunit.
Question 3
Which class of antibiotics inhibits protein synthesis by binding to the 50S
ribosomal subunit?
A) Macrolides
B) Aminoglycosides
C) Tetracyclines
D) Fluoroquinolones
Rationale: Macrolides (erythromycin, azithromycin), chloramphenicol, clindamycin, and
linezolid bind to the 50S ribosomal subunit to inhibit protein synthesis .
Question 4
Which antibiotic class inhibits DNA synthesis?
A) Penicillins
B) Fluoroquinolones
C) Macrolides
D) Tetracyclines
Rationale: Fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin) inhibit DNA synthesis by
blocking DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV.
, Question 5
The antibiotic class that inhibits folic acid synthesis includes:
A) Penicillins
B) Macrolides
C) Sulfonamides and trimethoprim
D) Tetracyclines
Rationale: Sulfonamides and trimethoprim (e.g., Bactrim) inhibit folic acid synthesis.
Sulfonamides inhibit dihydropteroate synthase; trimethoprim inhibits dihydrofolate
reductase.
Question 6
Aminoglycosides (e.g., gentamicin) are primarily effective against:
A) Gram-positive bacteria
B) Gram-negative bacteria
C) Anaerobic bacteria
D) Viruses
Rationale: Aminoglycosides are primarily effective against aerobic gram-negative
bacteria . They are also effective against some gram-positive bacteria, but their main use
is for gram-negative coverage.
Question 7
A serious adverse effect of aminoglycosides is:
A) Hepatotoxicity
B) Nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity
C) Cardiotoxicity
D) Neurotoxicity
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026
UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS.
SECTION 1: ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
Question 1
What is the mechanism of action of penicillin?
A) Inhibition of protein synthesis
B) Inhibition of DNA synthesis
C) Inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis
D) Inhibition of folic acid synthesis
Rationale: Penicillins (e.g., amoxicillin, ampicillin) inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis by
binding to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) and inhibiting transpeptidase, which is
essential for cross-linking peptidoglycan in the bacterial cell wall.
Question 2
Which class of antibiotics inhibits protein synthesis by binding to the 30S
ribosomal subunit?
,A) Macrolides
B) Chloramphenicol
C) Tetracyclines
D) Clindamycin
Rationale: Tetracyclines and aminoglycosides bind to the 30S ribosomal subunit to
inhibit protein synthesis . Macrolides, chloramphenicol, and clindamycin bind to the 50S
subunit.
Question 3
Which class of antibiotics inhibits protein synthesis by binding to the 50S
ribosomal subunit?
A) Macrolides
B) Aminoglycosides
C) Tetracyclines
D) Fluoroquinolones
Rationale: Macrolides (erythromycin, azithromycin), chloramphenicol, clindamycin, and
linezolid bind to the 50S ribosomal subunit to inhibit protein synthesis .
Question 4
Which antibiotic class inhibits DNA synthesis?
A) Penicillins
B) Fluoroquinolones
C) Macrolides
D) Tetracyclines
Rationale: Fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin) inhibit DNA synthesis by
blocking DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV.
, Question 5
The antibiotic class that inhibits folic acid synthesis includes:
A) Penicillins
B) Macrolides
C) Sulfonamides and trimethoprim
D) Tetracyclines
Rationale: Sulfonamides and trimethoprim (e.g., Bactrim) inhibit folic acid synthesis.
Sulfonamides inhibit dihydropteroate synthase; trimethoprim inhibits dihydrofolate
reductase.
Question 6
Aminoglycosides (e.g., gentamicin) are primarily effective against:
A) Gram-positive bacteria
B) Gram-negative bacteria
C) Anaerobic bacteria
D) Viruses
Rationale: Aminoglycosides are primarily effective against aerobic gram-negative
bacteria . They are also effective against some gram-positive bacteria, but their main use
is for gram-negative coverage.
Question 7
A serious adverse effect of aminoglycosides is:
A) Hepatotoxicity
B) Nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity
C) Cardiotoxicity
D) Neurotoxicity