NR566 EXAMINATION STUDY GUIDE 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
◉ Empiric Therapy.
Answer: start treatment without cultures or prior to receiving the
results of a culture
◉ immediate empiric antibiotics.
Answer: Critically ill patients receive (Fill in the Answer) after the
first set of cultures obtained; do not wait for results.
◉ Bactericidal antibiotics.
Answer: Directly kill bacteria: Agents include aminoglycosides, beta-
lactams, fluoroquinolones, metronidazole, most antimycobacterial
agents, streptogramins, and vancomycin.
preferred for immunocompromised patients such as those with
diabetes, HIV, or cancer and for those who have overwhelming
infections
◉ Bacteriostatic agents.
,Answer: inhibit bacterial proliferation while the host's immune
system does the killing. Agents include clindamycin, macrolides,
sulfonamides, and tetracyclines
◉ β-lactam Antibiotics.
Answer: Penicillins, Cephalosporins, Carbapenems, Monobactams
◉ Penicillins MOA.
Answer: Weaken bacterial cell wall by two actions:
(1) inhibition of transpeptidases
(2) disinhibition (activation) of autolysins.
◉ PBPs (Penicillin Binding Proteins).
Answer: Transpeptidases, Autolysins, and other bacterial enzymes
are collectively named as because antibiotic class must bind to them
to produce antibacterial effects.
◉ gram-positive bacteria.
Answer: two layers: the cytoplasmic membrane and a relatively
thick cell wall; penicillins are generally very active against these
organisms.
◉ gram-negative bacteria.
,Answer: three layers: the cytoplasmic membrane, a relatively thin
cell wall, and an additional outer membrane; only certain penicillins
(e.g., ampicillin) are able to cross and reach penicillin binding
proteins (PBPs)
◉ Four Major Groups of Penicillins.
Answer: (1) narrow-spectrum penicillins that are penicillinase
sensitive
(2) narrow-spectrum penicillins that are penicillinase resistant
(antistaphylococcal penicillins)
(3) broad-spectrum penicillins (aminopenicillins)
(4) extended-spectrum penicillins (antipseudomonal penicillins).
◉ narrow-spectrum penicillins: Penicillinase sensitive penicillins.
Answer: Penicillin G, Penicillin V
◉ narrow-spectrum penicillinase sensitive susceptible pathogens.
Answer: Streptococci, Neisseria, anaerobes
, ◉ very narrow antimicrobial spectrum and are used only against
penicillinase-producing strains of staphylococci (S. aureus and S.
epidermidis)..
Answer: narrow-spectrum penicillins: penicillinase resistant
penicillins
◉ narrow-spectrum penicillins: penicillinase resistant penicillins.
Answer: Nafcillin, Oxacillin, Dicloxacillin
◉ narrow-spectrum- penicillinase resistant susceptible pathogens.
Answer: S. Aureus, S. Epidermidis
◉ Drugs of choice for most staphylococcal infections.
Answer: penicillinase-resistant penicillins (Nafcillin, Oxacillin,
Dicloxacillin)
◉ Broad spectrum Penicillin: Aminopenicillins.
Answer: Ampicillin, Amoxicillin
◉ Broad spectrum Aminopenicillin susceptible pathogens.
Answer: Haemophilus influenzae, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis,
enterococci, Neisseria gonorrhoeae
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
◉ Empiric Therapy.
Answer: start treatment without cultures or prior to receiving the
results of a culture
◉ immediate empiric antibiotics.
Answer: Critically ill patients receive (Fill in the Answer) after the
first set of cultures obtained; do not wait for results.
◉ Bactericidal antibiotics.
Answer: Directly kill bacteria: Agents include aminoglycosides, beta-
lactams, fluoroquinolones, metronidazole, most antimycobacterial
agents, streptogramins, and vancomycin.
preferred for immunocompromised patients such as those with
diabetes, HIV, or cancer and for those who have overwhelming
infections
◉ Bacteriostatic agents.
,Answer: inhibit bacterial proliferation while the host's immune
system does the killing. Agents include clindamycin, macrolides,
sulfonamides, and tetracyclines
◉ β-lactam Antibiotics.
Answer: Penicillins, Cephalosporins, Carbapenems, Monobactams
◉ Penicillins MOA.
Answer: Weaken bacterial cell wall by two actions:
(1) inhibition of transpeptidases
(2) disinhibition (activation) of autolysins.
◉ PBPs (Penicillin Binding Proteins).
Answer: Transpeptidases, Autolysins, and other bacterial enzymes
are collectively named as because antibiotic class must bind to them
to produce antibacterial effects.
◉ gram-positive bacteria.
Answer: two layers: the cytoplasmic membrane and a relatively
thick cell wall; penicillins are generally very active against these
organisms.
◉ gram-negative bacteria.
,Answer: three layers: the cytoplasmic membrane, a relatively thin
cell wall, and an additional outer membrane; only certain penicillins
(e.g., ampicillin) are able to cross and reach penicillin binding
proteins (PBPs)
◉ Four Major Groups of Penicillins.
Answer: (1) narrow-spectrum penicillins that are penicillinase
sensitive
(2) narrow-spectrum penicillins that are penicillinase resistant
(antistaphylococcal penicillins)
(3) broad-spectrum penicillins (aminopenicillins)
(4) extended-spectrum penicillins (antipseudomonal penicillins).
◉ narrow-spectrum penicillins: Penicillinase sensitive penicillins.
Answer: Penicillin G, Penicillin V
◉ narrow-spectrum penicillinase sensitive susceptible pathogens.
Answer: Streptococci, Neisseria, anaerobes
, ◉ very narrow antimicrobial spectrum and are used only against
penicillinase-producing strains of staphylococci (S. aureus and S.
epidermidis)..
Answer: narrow-spectrum penicillins: penicillinase resistant
penicillins
◉ narrow-spectrum penicillins: penicillinase resistant penicillins.
Answer: Nafcillin, Oxacillin, Dicloxacillin
◉ narrow-spectrum- penicillinase resistant susceptible pathogens.
Answer: S. Aureus, S. Epidermidis
◉ Drugs of choice for most staphylococcal infections.
Answer: penicillinase-resistant penicillins (Nafcillin, Oxacillin,
Dicloxacillin)
◉ Broad spectrum Penicillin: Aminopenicillins.
Answer: Ampicillin, Amoxicillin
◉ Broad spectrum Aminopenicillin susceptible pathogens.
Answer: Haemophilus influenzae, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis,
enterococci, Neisseria gonorrhoeae
