2. Advanced Microbiology

Question 1

What class of antibiotic is flucloxacillin?

Answer 1

Penicillin - B-lactam

only active again gram + bacteria e.g. Staph Aureus

Question 2

What antibiotic is used against MRSA?

Answer 2

Vancomycin (glycopeptide)

Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus - flucloxacillin (methicillin) doesn’t work

Question 3

Necrotising Fasciitis is commonly caused by what?

Answer 3

Streptococcus Pyogenes

+ staph aureus

Question 4

Which of these antibiotics are safe to use during pregnancy?

1. Quinolones (ciprofloxacin)
2. Trimethoprim
3. Tetracyclins
4. Penicillins
5. Cephalosporins
6. Meropenem

Answer 4

4, 5, 6

B-lactams are safe in pregnancy.

The first 3 will all cause harm and should be avoided.

Question 5

Treatment for HSV, Chicken pox, Shingles?

Answer 5

Aciclovir

antiviral

Question 6

RNA polymerase nucelotide inhibitor used as a treatment against Hepatitis C?

Answer 6

Sofosbuvir

a combination of direct acting antivirals such as sofosbuvir are used - cure rates >90%

Question 7

What is MIC?

Answer 7

Minimum inhibitory concentration

The minimum concentration of bacteriostatic/fungostatic agent need to stop an organism visibly growing.

Question 8

What is MBC/MFC?

Answer 8

Minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration

The minimum concentration where most organisms are killed.

Question 9

Identify the B-lactam antibiotics.

Answer 9

1. Penicillins - Benzylpenicillin, Amoxicillin, Flucloxacillin
2. Cephalosporins - Cefuroxime, Ceftazidime
3. Carbapenems - Meropenem, Imipenem
4. Monobactams - Aztreonam (used in patients allergic to B-lactams)

Question 10

Identify 2 B-lactam/B-lactamase inhibitor combinations.

Answer 10

1. Amoxicillin + Clavulanate = Augmentin

2. Piperacillin + Tazobactam = Tazocin

Question 11

What is the mode of action of Echinocandins such as Anidulafungin, Caspofungin, Micafungin?

Answer 11

Inhibit fungal cell wall synthesis, by inhibiting β-1,3-glucan synthase.

Question 12

Most commonly used Aminoglycoside (protein synthesis inhibitor)?

Answer 12

Gentamicin

Question 13

Oxazolidinones
Tetracyclines
MLS antibiotics
Aminoglycosides

What have all of these got in common?

Answer 13

Bacterial protein synthesis inhibitors

protein synthesis inhibitors not used in fungi as they have similar mechanisms as humans

Question 14

Trimethoprim
Sulphonamides
Quinolones
Fluoroquinolones

What have all of these got in common?

Answer 14

Bacterial DNA synthesis inhibitors

Question 15

Treatment for TB?

Answer 15

Rifampicin

RNA synthesis inhibitor

Question 16

Where can bacterial resistance genes be found?

Answer 16

Plasmids

these sequences can be transferred to other bacteria by conjugation.

Question 17

What is the pharmacodynamic target in relation to antibiotics?

Answer 17

The fixed point at which the greatest clinical result is achieved with an antibiotic (e.g. concentration/duration of treatment).

Antibiotics are dosed to achieve PD target, but not exceed it.
As there are no additional benefits and it may be toxic.

Question 18

What is the Probability of Target Attainment in relation to antibiotics?

Answer 18

The probability that an antibiotic treatment will be effective and reach PD target.

Question 19

Complete killing or removal of all types of microorganisms.

Answer 19

Sterilisation

Question 20

Removal or destruction of sufficient numbers of potentially harmful micro-organisms to make an item safe to use.

Answer 20

Decontamination

Question 21

A drug that inhibits beta-lactamase activity?

Answer 21

Clavulanic acid

Question 22

One of the most common bacterial causes of community acquired pneumonia

Answer 22

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Question 23

When the activity of two antimicrobials given together is greater than the sum of their activity if given separately?

Answer 23

Synergism

Question 24

Class of ß-lactam antibiotics?

Answer 24

Penicillins

Question 25

A term used to describe the process of identifying if the organisms are clonally related?

Answer 25

Typing

Question 26

Vertical transmission of auto-antibodies from mother to foetus & breastfeeding - this is …….. immunity

Answer 26

Passive

Question 27

Antimicrobial agent which kills bacteria?

Answer 27

Bactericidal

Question 28

Test to inform decisions on which antimicrobial agents to use in an infection?

Answer 28

Sensitivity

Question 29

An antibiotic that effects RNA synthesis and used in the treatment of tuberculosis?

Answer 29

Rifampicin/Rifamycin

Question 30

An oral antibiotic that would be active against methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)?

Answer 30

Doxycycline

Question 31

An organism that can cause colitis secondary to treatment with broad spectrum antibiotic?

Answer 31

Clostridium difficile

Question 32

Example of a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor?

Answer 32

Azidothymidine

Question 33

The “C” in CRUB 65 score stands for ……?

Answer 33

Confusion

Question 34

Complete killing or removal of all types of micro-organisms

Answer 34

Sterilisation

Question 35

An antifungal commonly used for the treatment of athlete’s foot?

Answer 35

Terbinafine

Question 36

Removal or destruction of sufficient numbers of potentially harmful micro-organisms to make an item safe to use

Answer 36

Disinfection

Question 37

Change from a negative to a positive result from one test to a subsequent test is called ……?

Answer 37

Seroconversion

Question 38

A Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase inhibitor, which is a cytosine analogue used in the treatment of HIV?

Answer 38

Lamivudine

Question 39

Example of an aminoglycoside protein synthesis inhibitor antimicrobial agent?

Answer 39

Gentamicin

Question 40

A polymer that forms the outside of the bacterial cell wall?

Answer 40

Peptidoglycan

Question 41

Stain that distinguishes different bacteria on the basis of their cell walls?

Answer 41

Gram