Antibiotics

Open Ended

Why is it important to use the correct antibiotic regimen when treating infectious diseases like syphilis?

Multiple Choice

Which penicillin is the drug of choice for syphilis, and why should it not be given intravenously?

• Penicillin VK; it is not effective intravenously

• Penicillin G Benzathine; it can cause death if given IV

• Amoxicillin; it causes allergic reactions if given IV

• Dicloxacillin; it is nephrotoxic if given IV

Open Ended

Summarize the main strategies for managing patients with a penicillin allergy label according to the PEN-FAST clinical decision rule.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following antibiotics does NOT have antipseudomonal activity?

• Piperacillin–tazobactam

• Cefepime

• Cefoperazone–sulbactam

• Ceftazidime

• Amoxicillin–clavulanate

Multiple Choice

Which antibiotic is most appropriate for a 42-year-old man with suspected leptospirosis who cannot tolerate doxycycline and penicillin is unavailable?

• Penicillin V

• Cefazolin

• Cefuroxime

• Ceftriaxone

• Oral doxycycline with antiemetics

Multiple Choice

Based on the antimicrobial activity chart, which antibiotic combination shows activity against both ESBL-producing organisms and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDR/XDR)?

• Cefiderocol

• Ceftaroline/Avibactam

• Cefepime/Enmetazobactam

• Meropenem/Vaborbactam

Multiple Choice

Resistance to which drug requires further testing before using clindamycin?

• Cotrimoxazole

• Cefazolin

• Cefuroxime

• Erythromycin

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

What is the MOST likely cause of the patient's myoclonus and altered mental status after starting cefepime?

• Ceftriaxone-associated encephalopathy

• Azithromycin withdrawal

• Cefepime-induced neurotoxicity

• Uremic encephalopathy

Multiple Choice

Based on the antibiotic spectrum chart, which antibiotics cover both MRSA and Pseudomonas?

• Vancomycin and Piperacillin-tazobactam

• Linezolid and Meropenem

• Clindamycin and Gentamicin

• Ceftazidime and Tigecycline

Multiple Choice

A 42-year-old woman with a UTI is not improving on azithromycin. What is the most appropriate next step in management?

• Switch to Clarithromycin

• Increase azithromycin dose

• Switch to a Co-trimoxazole

• Switch to doxycycline

Multiple Choice

A 72-year-old woman with diabetes and UTI due to Enterobacter is sensitive to imipenem, colistin, and aztreonam-avibactam. Which is the best antibiotic to use?

• Colistin

• Aztreonam–Avibactam

• Imipenem

• Fosfomycin

Multiple Choice

Which antibiotic is MOST likely responsible for the patient's symptoms of burning sensation while eating, discoloration of the tongue, and pallor?

• Linezolid

• Vancomycin

• Ciprofloxacin

• Amoxicillin

Multiple Choice

What is the best next step in management for a patient with pan-sensitive E. coli urosepsis who is now conscious and afebrile after 4 days of meropenem?

• Continue meropenem for 3 more days

• Stop meropenem

• Switch to oral ciprofloxacin

• Ask for MIC values

Multiple Choice

Based on the systematic review and meta-analysis, what is the approximate percentage risk reduction in recurrent UTIs with cranberry products?

• 10%

• 20%

• 32.5%

• 50%

Multiple Choice

Before starting cotrimoxazole in a patient with no documented allergy history, what is the MOST important step?

• Start cotrimoxazole routinely

• Give a test dose of cotrimoxazole

• Ask & document any past sulfa allergy

• Admit and start as in-patient

Multiple Choice

Which of the following are accepted indications to start antibiotics in acute sinusitis?

• Persistent symptoms >10 days

• Severe symptoms with fever >38–39°C and purulent discharge

• “Double-worsening” after initial improvement

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

What is the MOST appropriate next step for a patient with Salmonella Typhi sensitive to ceftriaxone who is clinically improving but still has fever on day 5 of ceftriaxone?

• Switch to meropenem

• Add azithromycin

• Change ceftriaxone to 1 g IV twice daily

• Continue ceftriaxone or switch to appropriate oral step-down and counsel

Multiple Choice

Which pattern of fever is characteristic of typhoid, as shown in the graph?

• Remittent fever

• Step ladder fever

• Intermittent fever

• Relapsing fever

Multiple Choice

Based on the data provided, which antibiotic regimen leads to a faster defervescence in typhoid fever: ceftriaxone alone or ceftriaxone with azithromycin?

• Ceftriaxone alone

• Ceftriaxone with azithromycin

• Both are equally effective

• Neither is effective

Multiple Choice

Which bacteria should NOT be treated in a patient with positive GI PCR panel for Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter jejuni, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Shiga toxin–producing E. coli (STEC)?

• Salmonella

• Shigella

• Campylobacter jejuni

• Yersinia enterocolitica

• Shiga toxin–producing E. coli (STEC)

Multiple Choice

A 29-year-old woman is screened because her husband tested positive for syphilis. She has no symptoms, ulcers, rash, or neurological signs. VDRL is 1:4 and TPHA is positive. She has no penicillin allergy, and her last menstrual period was 45 days ago. Which penicillin regimen is most appropriate?

• Penicillin V orally 14 days

• Crystalline Penicillin IV × 14 days

• Benzathine Penicillin G weekly × 3

• No antibiotics needed

• Benzylpenicillin IV × 10 days

Open Ended

After completing the Antibiotic Master Course 2025, what is one area related to antibiotics or infectious diseases that you would like to learn more about or still have questions on?