NR 293 Pharm-Exam 1 Study Questions and
Verified Answers
What are the more common categories of antibiotic types?
(Mnemonic: Some People Can Make Quick Angry Tatertots) Correct Answer:
Sulfonamides, penicillins, cephalosporins, macrolides, quinolones, aminoglycosides,
tetracyclines.
(Text, pg 604)
What are the 4 most common mechanisms of antibiotic action? Correct Answer: 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?
Correct Answer: 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?
Correct Answer: 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? Correct
Answer: Antibiotic therapy tailored to treat organism identified with cultures
(PP Slide 13)
What is meant by "Prophylactic therapy" in regards to antibiotic treatment? Correct
Answer: 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? Correct Answer: 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? Correct Answer: S/S of the infection do not
improve with antibiotic therapy
What is a superinfection? Correct Answer: 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? Correct Answer: 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? Correct Answer: 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? Correct Answer:
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? Correct Answer: Teratogens
Some patients have certain genetic abnormalities that result in various enzyme
deficiencies. Name two of the more common ones. Correct Answer: -Glucose-6-
phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)
-Slow acetylation
Explain slow acetylation Correct Answer: 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? Correct Answer: 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? Correct Answer: 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.
Verified Answers
What are the more common categories of antibiotic types?
(Mnemonic: Some People Can Make Quick Angry Tatertots) Correct Answer:
Sulfonamides, penicillins, cephalosporins, macrolides, quinolones, aminoglycosides,
tetracyclines.
(Text, pg 604)
What are the 4 most common mechanisms of antibiotic action? Correct Answer: 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?
Correct Answer: 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?
Correct Answer: 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? Correct
Answer: Antibiotic therapy tailored to treat organism identified with cultures
(PP Slide 13)
What is meant by "Prophylactic therapy" in regards to antibiotic treatment? Correct
Answer: 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? Correct Answer: 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? Correct Answer: S/S of the infection do not
improve with antibiotic therapy
What is a superinfection? Correct Answer: 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? Correct Answer: 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? Correct Answer: 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? Correct Answer:
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? Correct Answer: Teratogens
Some patients have certain genetic abnormalities that result in various enzyme
deficiencies. Name two of the more common ones. Correct Answer: -Glucose-6-
phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)
-Slow acetylation
Explain slow acetylation Correct Answer: 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? Correct Answer: 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? Correct Answer: 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.
