NURS 3550 (Pharmacology) Exam Questions and Answers Already Passed Latest Update
2025-2026
Penicillins - Answers Ideal, widely used antibiotics.
Beta-lactam antibiotics method of action - Answers Inhibits Transpeptidases and activates
Autolysins.
Transpeptidases - Answers Create cell wall cross bridges, giving the cell wall strength.
Autolysins - Answers Bacterial enzymes that cleave cell walls.
Penicillin-binding proteins - Answers Located on the cytoplasmic membrane, these eight sites
react with penicillin to produce effects.
PBP1 and PBP3 - Answers The most important PBP sites, used by most penicillin.
Penicillin resistance - Answers Inability to reach PBPs, inactivation via bacterial enzymes, and
PBP sites with low affinity.
Gram positive cell envelope - Answers Two layers: easily penetrated thick cell wall, and a
membrane.
Gram negative cell envelope - Answers Three layers: inner membrane, a thin cell wall, and a
outer membrane that is difficult to penetrate.
Beta-lactamases - Answers Enzymes that cleave the beta-lactam ring, deactivating penicillin.
Some act on many drugs, some are very specific.
Methicillin - Answers Penicillin that was resistant to Staph beta-lactamases (now obsolete).
MRSA method of immunity - Answers Production of very low affinity PBP sites, as well as
standard Staph beta-lactamases, resulting in a very hardy infection.
Common dermal Staph symptoms - Answers Boils, rashes (cellulitis), blisters (impetigo).
Two types of MRSA - Answers HCA-MRSA (healthcare associated) and CA-MRSA (community
associated).
More serious MRSA type - Answers Healthcare associated MRSA.
Preferred HCA-MRSA treatment. - Answers Highly individualized, often uses IV vancomycin,
linezolid, daptomycin, telavancin, clindamycin, and cefazoline.
Best MRSA treatment drug - Answers Vancomycin.
Are HCA-MRSA and CA-MRSA the same? - Answers No, they are distinct species.
, Should drugs be used for CA-MRSA? - Answers Unless serious, no. Reduction of acquired
immunities is paramount.
Penicillin G - Answers The first prototype penicillin, it is more effective against gram-positive
bacteria than gram-negative. Despite it's age, it is still used to this date.
Penicillin G spectrum - Answers Narrow spectrum, being mostly efficient against gram-positive
bacteria. Gram-negative bacteria it can affect are N. Meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae.
Admission routes of penicillin G - Answers IM (Potassium and sodium based P.G is rapid while
procaine and benzathine are slower).
IV (Only use potassium or sodium salts)
Repository preparations - Answers Slow acting drug administration.
Penicillin half life - Answers Average of 30 minutes.
Penicillin excretion - Answers Kidneys.
Penicillin allergy process - Answers Allergens are by-products of penicillin metabolism, not the
drug itself.
Penicillin V (VK) - Answers Acid stable penicillin G, used for oral administration.
Antistaphylococcal Penicillins - Answers Nafcillin, oxacillin, dicloxacillin. Narrow range, used for
Staph infections.
Ampicillin, amoxicillin - Answers Broad spectrum penicillins.
Difference in broad spectrum penicillin - Answers Amoxicillin is more stable for oral
administration, less side effects when administered orally.
Piper-acillin - Answers Only extended release penicillin. Strongly indicated for P. aeruginosa
infections.
Cephalosporins - Answers Beta-lactam antibiotics, however not penicillin.
difference between Cephalosporins and penicillin - Answers Cephalosporins are broader
spectrum.
First generation Cephalosporins - Answers Highly effective against gram-positive bacteria,
highly ineffective against gram-negative.
Second generation Cephalosporins - Answers More effective against gram-negative bacteria
than first generation, and still do not reach the CSF.
Third generation Cephalosporins - Answers E.G cefotaxime, the first generation to reach the
2025-2026
Penicillins - Answers Ideal, widely used antibiotics.
Beta-lactam antibiotics method of action - Answers Inhibits Transpeptidases and activates
Autolysins.
Transpeptidases - Answers Create cell wall cross bridges, giving the cell wall strength.
Autolysins - Answers Bacterial enzymes that cleave cell walls.
Penicillin-binding proteins - Answers Located on the cytoplasmic membrane, these eight sites
react with penicillin to produce effects.
PBP1 and PBP3 - Answers The most important PBP sites, used by most penicillin.
Penicillin resistance - Answers Inability to reach PBPs, inactivation via bacterial enzymes, and
PBP sites with low affinity.
Gram positive cell envelope - Answers Two layers: easily penetrated thick cell wall, and a
membrane.
Gram negative cell envelope - Answers Three layers: inner membrane, a thin cell wall, and a
outer membrane that is difficult to penetrate.
Beta-lactamases - Answers Enzymes that cleave the beta-lactam ring, deactivating penicillin.
Some act on many drugs, some are very specific.
Methicillin - Answers Penicillin that was resistant to Staph beta-lactamases (now obsolete).
MRSA method of immunity - Answers Production of very low affinity PBP sites, as well as
standard Staph beta-lactamases, resulting in a very hardy infection.
Common dermal Staph symptoms - Answers Boils, rashes (cellulitis), blisters (impetigo).
Two types of MRSA - Answers HCA-MRSA (healthcare associated) and CA-MRSA (community
associated).
More serious MRSA type - Answers Healthcare associated MRSA.
Preferred HCA-MRSA treatment. - Answers Highly individualized, often uses IV vancomycin,
linezolid, daptomycin, telavancin, clindamycin, and cefazoline.
Best MRSA treatment drug - Answers Vancomycin.
Are HCA-MRSA and CA-MRSA the same? - Answers No, they are distinct species.
, Should drugs be used for CA-MRSA? - Answers Unless serious, no. Reduction of acquired
immunities is paramount.
Penicillin G - Answers The first prototype penicillin, it is more effective against gram-positive
bacteria than gram-negative. Despite it's age, it is still used to this date.
Penicillin G spectrum - Answers Narrow spectrum, being mostly efficient against gram-positive
bacteria. Gram-negative bacteria it can affect are N. Meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae.
Admission routes of penicillin G - Answers IM (Potassium and sodium based P.G is rapid while
procaine and benzathine are slower).
IV (Only use potassium or sodium salts)
Repository preparations - Answers Slow acting drug administration.
Penicillin half life - Answers Average of 30 minutes.
Penicillin excretion - Answers Kidneys.
Penicillin allergy process - Answers Allergens are by-products of penicillin metabolism, not the
drug itself.
Penicillin V (VK) - Answers Acid stable penicillin G, used for oral administration.
Antistaphylococcal Penicillins - Answers Nafcillin, oxacillin, dicloxacillin. Narrow range, used for
Staph infections.
Ampicillin, amoxicillin - Answers Broad spectrum penicillins.
Difference in broad spectrum penicillin - Answers Amoxicillin is more stable for oral
administration, less side effects when administered orally.
Piper-acillin - Answers Only extended release penicillin. Strongly indicated for P. aeruginosa
infections.
Cephalosporins - Answers Beta-lactam antibiotics, however not penicillin.
difference between Cephalosporins and penicillin - Answers Cephalosporins are broader
spectrum.
First generation Cephalosporins - Answers Highly effective against gram-positive bacteria,
highly ineffective against gram-negative.
Second generation Cephalosporins - Answers More effective against gram-negative bacteria
than first generation, and still do not reach the CSF.
Third generation Cephalosporins - Answers E.G cefotaxime, the first generation to reach the
