ClickUP questions Flashcards
Miss Y, 36 years old, was booked for an explorative laparotomy following a motor vehicle accident. Fortunately, no injuries were found. Despite good antibiotic prophylaxis, she developed an infection along the incisional wound two days later.
Multiple factors affect the development of surgical site infections, but which factor does NOT?
a. Intraoperative management
b. Bacterial defenses
c. Bacterial load
d. Bacterial virulence
e. A patient with a hip prosthesis
b. Bacterial defenses
Mr. R, a 43-year-old, is brought into the emergency department by his wife. Mr. R is drowsy and his wife reports that he has been complaining of a headache and a stiff neck. Mr. R’s temperature is 39.4°C. You suspect that Mr. R is suffering from bacterial meningitis and decide to do a lumbar puncture. Before you perform the lumbar puncture, you admit Mr. R and start him on empiric antibiotics. What would the most appropriate empiric antibiotic therapy be for Mr. R?
a. Vancomycin plus ceftazidime or cefepime
b. Vancomycin plus co-trimoxazole
c. Ampicillin and cefotaxime
d. Ceftriaxone or cefotaxime +/- ampicillin
e. Benzylpenicillin
d. Ceftriaxone or cefotaxime +/- ampicillin
Mrs Adams is a 39-year-old female who has been on quinine treatment for severe malaria for the past 5 days, due to the lack of Co-Artem in the hospital. The patient has been progressively lethargic and confused since she started the treatment, raising concerns that the dose of quinine may be too high. Which one of these findings upon further investigation would NOT be present in cinchonism?
a. Hypernatraemia
b. Haemolysis
c. Hypoglycaemia
d. Agranulocytosis
e. Thrombocytopenia
a. Hypernatraemia
In which of the following cases is ribavirin indicated?
a. In chronic hepatitis B infection.
b. In all cases of respiratory syncytial virus.
c. In viral hemorrhagic fever – Ebola virus disease.
d. In severe influenza A infection.
e. In hepatitis C infection.
e. In hepatitis C infection.
Praziquantel is an anti-parasitic agent that is active against the adult and larval stages of most trematodes. For which parasite would you not prescribe praziquantel?
a. Chlonorchiasis
b. Schistosomiasis
c. Tapeworms
d. Fasciola hepatica
e. Cysticercosis
d. Fasciola hepatica
Mrs B is a pregnant 36 year old nurse. She is a chronic alcoholic with a familial history of hepatocellular carcinoma. Investigations reveal elevated AST/ALT, as well as HBV DNA levels.
What is the best initial management plan for Mrs B?
a. Give an oral combination of tenofovir and emtricitabine.
b. Mrs B is not at risk for progression of the disease, and hence, treatment is supportive.
c. Start immediately on interferon-alpha.
d. As Mrs B is pregnant, she should not be on interferon-alpha and oral entecavir is the best initial step.
e. Administer an HIV test prior to any treatment.
e. Administer an HIV test prior to any treatment.
Mr P, a 45 year old Caucasian businessman known to have stage 3 lung cancer, comes in complaining of a stiff neck, nausea and vomiting as of 2 days ago. On physical examination you find he has a heart rate of 130 BPM and has a temperature of 38oC. You do a lumbar puncture and are awaiting the results. Which one of the following drugs or combinations should you prescribe?
a. Famciclovir
b. Vancomycin plus ceftazidime
c. Ceftriaxone or cefotaxime
d. Metronidazole
e. Streptomycin
c. Ceftriaxone or cefotaxime
Mrs X, a 25 year old, presented to Steve Biko Academic Hospital with a fever, lethargy and vomiting. She recently returned from a weekend holiday in northern KZN. She is 28 weeks pregnant using her LNMP. What is the appropriate initial management?
a. Oral coartem
b. Oral quinine plus clindamycin
c. IV quinine
d. Oral quinine plus doxycycline
c. IV quinine
A 28-year-old woman, gravida 1, para 0, at 20 weeks’ gestation comes to the doctor with her husband for a prenatal visit. Her pregnancy has been uncomplicated. They are planning to travel to Mozambique next month to visit her husband’s family. Medications include folic acid and an iron supplement. Vital signs are within the normal range. Abdominal examination shows a uterus that is consistent with a 20-week gestation. Which of the following drugs is most suitable for pre-exposure prophylaxis against malaria?
a. Mefloquine
b. Chloroquine
c. Primaquine
d. Proguinal
e. Doxycycline
a. Mefloquine
Fluconazole is a systemic anti-fungal that can be used in the prophylaxis for invasive candida infections. Which species of candida is fluconazole inactive against?
a. Candida lusitaniae
b. Candida albicans
c. Candida auris
d. Candida parapsilosis
e. Candida krusei
e. Candida krusei
A 41-year-old man comes to the doctor because of a 3-week history of fatigue, cough, and a 4.5-kg weight loss. He does not smoke or drink alcohol. He appears emaciated. A chest x-ray shows a calcified nodule in the left lower lobe and left hilar lymphadenopathy. The doctor initiates therapy for the condition and informs him that he will have to return for monthly ophthalmologic examination for the next 2 months. These examinations are most likely to evaluate the patient for an adverse effect of which one of the following drugs?
a. Ethambutol
b. Isoniazid
c. Pyrazinamide
d. Rifampicin
e. Streptomycin
a. Ethambutol
An 18 month old child presents with a white, bulging tympanic membrane. A diagnosis of acute otitis media is made and amoxicillin is initiated at a dose of 90 mg/kg per day in two divided doses. How long should the antibiotic treatment be continued?
a. 3 days
b. 10 days
c. 7 days
d. 5 days
e. 14 days
b. 10 days
You would like to put your patient Mrs X on TB preventative therapy; however, there are factors which need to be excluded before you can start her on isoniazid (INH). Select the option that does NOT exclude Mrs X from starting the treatment.
a. Peripheral neuropathy
b. A previous adverse reaction to INH
c. Critically ill state
d. Signs of active TB
e. Previous infection with TB over 6 months ago (now TB sputum culture negative)
e. Previous infection with TB over 6 months ago (now TB sputum culture negative)
Mr X, a 66 year old with known hypertension, presents to you with the following complaints: a cough producing purulent, blood-stained sputum, chest pain, and fever for 3 days. Mr X is not confused or delirious. On percussion of the lung fields, you note dullness in the right upper lobe. On auscultation, you hear crackles and bronchial breathing in the right upper lobe. You decide to send him for a CXR and blood work. You make the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia with a CURB-65 score of 2. The most appropriate management for this patient is:
a. Admit Mr X to the ward and treat with high dose amoxicillin and tetracycline
b. Admit Mr X to the ward and treat with Augmentin® (amoxicillin-clavulanate) and tetracycline .
c. High dose amoxicillin and tetracycline, which Mr X takes home.
d. Augmentin (amoxicillin-clavulanate) and azithromycin, which Mr X takes at home.
e. Tell Mr X thathe is experiencing severe flu and that he will recover with bed rest and Panado® (paracetamol).
b. Admit Mr X to the ward and treat with Augmentin® (amoxicillin-clavulanate) and tetracycline .
Mr Z, is an HIV-positive patient. His partner tests positive for an acute hepatitis B infection. Mr Z’s HbsAg (Hepatitis B surface antigen) test comes back positive. Which drugs listed below have activity against both the HIV and hepatitis B viruses?
a. Interferon-alpha
b. Nevirapine
c. Tenofovir, emtricitabine, lamivudine
d. Atazanavir, ritonavir
e. Lopinavir, ritonavir
c. Tenofovir, emtricitabine, lamivudine
A researcher is studying a new antituberculosis drug. In the laboratory, the drug has been shown to be effective against mycobacteria located within phagolysosomes of macrophages, but it is also significantly less effective against extracellular tuberculoid bacteria. The characteristics of this drug are most similar to which of the following agents?
a. Pyrazinamide
b. Isoniazid
c. Ethambutol
d. Streptomycin
e. Rifampicin
a. Pyrazinamide
Mr Y, a 17 year old schoolboy, is a known HIV-positive patient on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for over 5 years and has recently come into contact with his uncle who stays in the same home as him. Upon further investigation it is found that his uncle has TB. You take initiative to preventatively treat MR Y but you first do a TB skin test (TST) which comes back as positive. How long will you prescribe isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT)?
a. 0 months
b. 6 months
c. 12 months
d. 18 months
e. 36 months
e. 36 months
Regarding organisms involved in surgical prophylaxis, choose the most appropriate option:
a. Gram-positive bacteria cause wound infection in colon, gynaecological and, genito-urinary procedures
b. Most surgical infections are nosocomial infections
c. There is no relation between organism potential resistance and hospital epidemiology
d. Staphylococcus aureus is the major pathogen in wound infection after clean surgery
d. Staphylococcus aureus is the major pathogen in wound infection after clean surgery
A 6 year old boy presents with worsening signs and symptoms of acute rhinosinusitis for the past 14 days. He had a fever and purulent nasal discharge for 3 days at the beginning of his illness and you decide to initiate empiric treatment. Which empiric therapy is not recommended due to high rates of resistance to H. influenzae?
a. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
b. Doxycycline
c. Clarithromycin
d. Ceftriaxone
e. Amoxicillin-clavulanate
a. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
Which is the most common pathogen known for causing community–acquired cystitis?
a. Klebsiella
b. Proteus
c. E. coli
d. Pseudomonas
c. E. coli
Mr Y has been receiving TB treatment for the past 6 months: rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol for the first 2 months, and rifampicin and isoniazid for an additional 4 months. If this treatment does not prove to be effective, which of the following drugs can NOT be used as additional treatment?
a. Ethionamide
b. Rifampicin
c. Linezolid
d. Clofazimine
e. Fluoroquinolones
b. Rifampicin
Mrs Y presents with a high fever and left flank pain. On urine dipstick she has 2++ leukocytes. What is the recommended first-line empirical treatment?
a. Oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
b. Intravenous cefuroxime
c. Intravenous ceftriaxone
d. Oral nitrofurantoin
e. Intravenous fosfomycin
c. Intravenous ceftriaxone
Risk factors for severe/complicated influenza do not include the following:
a. Pregnancy up to 2 weeks post-partum
b. Immunosuppressed patients
c. Age ≤18 years receiving chronic aspirin therapy
d. Hypertensive patients
e. Patients who deteriorate rapidly
d. Hypertensive patients
A 23-year-old man comes to the physician because of a 1-week history of muscle ache, fatigue, and fever that occurs every 2 days. He recently returned from a trip to southern Zambia. A peripheral blood smear shows erythrocytes with brick-red granules. The doctor recommends a combination of two antimicrobial drugs after confirming normal glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. Which of the following is the most appropriate rationale for dual therapy?
a. Decrease in enzymatic drug deactivation
b. Prevention of infection relapse
c. Decrease in renal drug secretion
d. Prevention of drug resistance
e. Therapy against polymicrobial infections
b. Prevention of infection relapse
Mrs Y is a 60 year old female who has abnormal uterine bleeding and is scheduled for a hysterectomy. This surgery is an indication for prophylactic antibiotics; which one of the following surgeries does NOT qualify for prophylactic antibiotics?
a. An elective caesarean section
b. Joint replacement
c. Simple open fracture
d. Open reduction internal fixation (ORIF)
a. An elective caesarean section
A mother brings her child into your practice – aged 3 years. She reports that the child had a high fever in the night. She also noted a rash that started on the face 2 days ago. On examination you find that the child has a dry cough and very red eyes. What is the diagnosis?
a. Scarlet fever
b. Dengue
c. Mycoplasma pneumoniae
d. Measles
e. Rubella
d. Measles
Which of the following symptoms is not found in cystitis?
a. dysuria
b. pain above pubic region
c. flank pain
d. bacteria in urine
e. increased urinary frequency
c. flank pain
Mr. Jones recently travelled to Mpumalanga and has since been experiencing high fevers and diarrhoea. He was started on chloroquine. Which symptom does NOT correlate with toxicity of this drug?
a. Weight loss
b. ECG changes
c. GIT symptoms
d. Blurred vision
e. Neuro psychiatric symptoms
a. Weight loss
The following patient is eligible for TB preventative therapy:
a. Patient who has completed MDR or XDR TB treatment
b. Patient with active liver disease
c. Patient with previous adverse reaction to isoniazid
d. Pregnant patient
e. Patient with signs and symptoms of TB
d. Pregnant patient
Mr X, an 11 year old male presents with fever, cough and myalgia. You suspect influenza. What medication should you start him on and when?
a. Zanamivir after diagnosis is confirmed.
b. Diphenhydramine after diagnosis is confirmed.
c. Oseltamivir within the first 48 hours of symptoms.
d. Rimantidine within the first 48 hours of symptoms
e. Amoxicilin after diagnosis is confirmed.
c. Oseltamivir within the first 48 hours of symptoms.
What is the correct combination of treatment for a 65 year old patient diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia requiring ICU admission?
a. 3rd generation cephalosporin + tetracycline + ampicillin
b. Amoxycillin + aminoglycoside + azalide
c. Parenteral penicillin G + amoxycillin + azalide
d. Amoxycillin/clavulanate + 2nd generation cephalosporin +
e. Amoxycillin/clavulanate + aminoglycosides + macrolide
e. Amoxycillin/clavulanate + aminoglycosides + macrolide
An 8-month old baby girl is brought to your practice by her mother with a 2-day history of a fever and skin rash. The rash started on the face and spares the hands and feet. According to the patient’s road to health booklet, the child last received an immunisation at 14 weeks. On examination, the baby appears malnourished and you find the child has conjunctivitis and a runny nose. You make the diagnosis of measles. What is the most appropriate management for this patient?
a. Supportive care
b. Supportive care, ribavirin and vitamin A
c. Antibiotics
d. Ribavirin and vitamin A supplements
e. Acyclovir
b. Supportive care, ribavirin and vitamin A
A 72 year old female presents to your practice with cough, blood-stained purulent sputum, chest pain and fever for 3 days. On examination, her vitals are normal but there is consolidation in the right upper lobe and lobar opacity on x-ray. You diagnose community-acquired pneumonia. What is the first-line therapy of choice?
a. Fluoroquinolones
b. Tetracycline
c. Doxycycline
d. High dose amoxicillin
e. Amoxicillin-clavulanate
e. Amoxicillin-clavulanate
A 58-year-old woman comes to the physician because of a 6-month history of difficulty walking, clumsiness of her arms and legs, and slurred speech. Physical examination shows masked facies and a slow, shuffling gait. When her ankles are passively flexed, there is involuntary, jerky resistance. Treatment is initiated with a combination of levodopa and carbidopa. The addition of carbidopa is most likely to decrease the risk of which of the following potential adverse drug effects?
a. Visual hallucinations
b. Orthostatic hypotension
c. Dyskinesia
d. Resting tremor
e. Urinary retention
b. Orthostatic hypotension
A 13-year-old boy is brought to the emergency room by his mother for a generalized tonic-clonic seizure that occurred while attending a laser light show. His mother says that he has been otherwise healthy but “he often daydreams”. Over the past several months, he has reported recurrent episodes of jerky movements of his fingers and arms. These episodes usually occurred shortly after waking up in the morning. He has not lost consciousness during these episodes. Which of the following is the most appropriate treatment for this patient’s condition?
a. Valproate
b. Tiagabine
c. Ethosuximide
d. Carbamazepine
e. Phenytoin
a. Valproate
A 10-year-old girl is brought to the emergency department by her mother 30 minutes after having had a seizure. When her mother woke her up that morning, the girl’s entire body stiffened and she started shaking vigorously for several minutes. Her mother also reports that over the past few months, her daughter has had multiple episodes of being unresponsive for less than a minute, during which her eyelids were fluttering. The girl did not recall these episodes afterwards. Upon arrival, she appears drowsy. Neurologic examination shows no abnormalities. Which of the following is the most appropriate pharmacotherapy to prevent recurrence of this patient’s symptoms?
a. Lorazepam
b. Phenytoin
c. Gabapentin
d. Valproate
e. Ethosuximide
d. Valproate
A 30-year old well-controlled schizophrenic male sees you for a routine checkup. He says he feels well, and has no complaints. He has been on olanzapine for a year. On examination you note increased blood pressure, high finger prick glucose, and increased waist circumference. Blood results show raised glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Which of the following antipsychotic medications has the lowest potential to cause weight gain and metabolic syndrome?
a. Risperidone
b. Olanzapine
c. Quetiapine
d. Clozapine
e. Haloperidol
e. Haloperidol
Mr. T a 23 year old man, has been diagnosed with schizophrenia for 1 year. On his follow-up visit, you discover that his psychosis has intensified. On further questioning you learn that he has not been taking his treatment - he believes that he is not sick. He lives with his mother and is able to come in for check-ups, although he does not take his treatment. He is not aggressive and does not impose harm to himself or anyone around him. What would his next line of treatment be?
a. Haloperidol + risperidone oral
b. Clozapine depot
c. Risperidone depot
d. Admit him
e. Clozapine oral
c. Risperidone depot
Memantine may decrease the effect of which one of the following?
a. Levodopa
b. Anticholinergics
c. Dopaminergics
d. Barbiturates
d. Barbiturates
You diagnose Mr. X, a 64-year-old male, with severe Alzheimer’s disease. You are planning to treat him with memantine. Which of the following is NOT a side effect of memantine?
a. Vomiting
b. Hallucinations
c. Hypotonia
d. Confusion
c. Hypotonia`
A 55-year-old woman comes to the office because she has a 20-year history of repetitive actions and is tired of wasting time by repeating these actions. The patient says she repeatedly checks the doors in her house to make sure they are locked, washes her hands several times per hour, and checks her electrical appliances three times each morning before she leaves for work. Medical history includes a second-degree atrioventricular block. Which of the following medications is the most appropriate initial therapy for this patient’s psychiatric disorder?
a. Sertraline
b. Quetiapine
c. Clomipramine
d. Clonazepam
a. Sertraline
You are a fifth-year medical student on your first day in Weskoppies. A 40-year-old male with a history of schizophrenia presents to the OPD for his checkup and script renewal. When consulting the file, you notice his medication was changed to clozapine 2 months ago. Because the patient is on clozapine, what will form part of the management not previously done while on risperidone
a. Total cholesterol
b. FBC
c. Weighing the patient
d. Therapeutic drug monitoring
e. Detailed history looking for symptoms and signs of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS)
b. FBC
Mrs Y, a 35-year-old woman diagnosed with refractory schizophrenia is treated with clozapine 25 mg/day. Select the correct statement regarding the drug clozapine and potential novel targets for treating schiziphrenia
a. Clozapine, together with a benzodiazepine, is effective in increasing the seizure threshold in a patient suffering from epilepsy
b. A dopamine auto-receptor selective antagonist is another potential site for reducing psychosis in a patient with schizophrenia.
c. Only 30-60% of D2 receptors are blocked when 5HT-1 receptors are blocked simultaneously with the use of clozapine
d. Blockade of the 5HT-2 receptors in the nigrostriatal pathway decreases dopamine here, reducing the positive symptoms in a patient with schizophrenia
e. Another potential site for targeting schizophrenia is using dopamine partial agonists, as well as 5HT2c antagonists
e. Another potential site for targeting schizophrenia is using dopamine partial agonists, as well as 5HT2c antagonists
A 45 years old male patient previously started on a neuroleptic drug come to the emergency room 10 days after initiation of the treatment. He has an altered mental status and on examination there is muscle rigidity, tachycardia, hyperthermia and blood pressure 175/105 mmHg. Blood results show grossly elevated CK levels. Which drug will form part of the drug therapy for treating this patient?
a. Sulpiride
b. Dantrolene
c. Fluphenazine
d. Risperidone
e. Clozapine
b. Dantrolene
Risperidone is started due to the intolerable side effects of haloperidol. All of the following are absolute contra-indications for prescribing risperidone, except?
a. Pregnancy
b. Diabetes
c. Hyperlipidemia
d. Parkinson’s disease
a. Pregnancy
Mr. X is a 19-year-old male who presents to casualty with a first episode of acute psychosis. He is referred to psychiatry for an evaluation of suspected schizophrenia. He is started on 6 mg haloperidol. The drug significantly improves his positive symptoms, but he develops intolerable side effects.
Which one of the following is a side effect specific to haloperidol?
a. Tremor
b. Constipation
c. Increased risk of death in patients with dementia
d. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
c. Increased risk of death in patients with dementia
A patient who has been prescribed the anti-parkinsonian medication carbidopa/levodopa, asks the healthcare provider, “Why am I getting these two medications?” How should the healthcare provider respond?
a. You will experience more side effects when you take both medications together
b. The carbidopa prevents the breakdown of the levodopa
c. This drug combination is composed of two types of the same medication
d. The levodopa turns the carbidopa into dopamine when it reaches the brain
b. The carbidopa prevents the breakdown of the levodopa
What percentage of levodopa enters the brain unaltered?:
a. 1 - 3 %
b. 5 -10%
c. 15 – 30%
d. 30 – 50%
e. >50%
b. 5 -10%
Mrs Xiomara,a 70 year old with Parkinson’s Disease went to visit her children during the holidays, and got sick with a virus of some sort. She went to the doctor, who diagnosed an influenza infection. He prescribed a drug with anti-parkinsonian properties as well as anti-viral properties. Which drug did he prescribe?
a. pergolide
b. procyclidine
c. amantadine
d. levodopa
e. reserpine
c. amantadine
A 60-year-old male presents to your practice complaining of “not being able to move around and do as much as he used to”. Upon examination you find slight rigidity in both legs, a left-sided tremor and bradykinesia. You rule out any psychiatric medication as a possible cause. The diagnosis of early Parkinson’s disease is made. His symptoms are not disabling. You want to start him on treatment, but you are concerned about the long-term motor complications of certain therapeutic drugs. Choose the most suitable initial drug for your patient and identify the class to which it belongs:
a. Ropinirole which is a MAOI-B (irreversible)
b. Selegiline which is a dopamine agonist
c. Ropinirole which is a dopamine agonist
d. Selegiline which is a MAOI-B (irreversible)
e. Levodopa which is a dopamine precursor
d. Selegiline which is a MAOI-B (irreversible)
Mr A, a 40 year tourist who has been travelling through South Africa for 5 months, presents to your practice complaining of headaches, achy muscles and chills, runny nose and a dry cough for the past 7 days. On taking his history you discover that he was taking medication to help him cope with the stresses of his job, but ran out of them 2 weeks ago. He did not seek a prescription in South Africa as he felt the medication negatively affected his libido and thus his relationship with his partner. He does not know the names of the medication, and still feels “on edge”. His temperature is normal, and his chest is clear. What is the most appropriate intervention?
a. Prescribe paracetamol, cough syrup and send for CXR
b. Start him on paroxetine 20 mg
c. Prescribe a short course of augmentin and paracetamol
d. Prescribe benzodiazepines to manage his stress
e. Start him on fluoxetine 20 mg
e. Start him on fluoxetine 20 mg
Mr Q is a 35 year old who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has been prescribed the mood stabiliser, lithium. He presents to you today after 4 months of treatment complaining of nausea and vomiting and you notice he has a hand tremor. Which of the following is not a symptom of lithium toxicity?
a. Slurred speech
b. Decreased reflexes
c. Thyroid enlargement
d. Renal failure
e. Confusion
b. Decreased reflexes
Mrs X, a 40 year old diagnosed with depression has failed first-line drug therapy and has been prescribed a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA). She presents to you today after 2 months of TCA therapy, complaining of excessive drowsiness after taking her medication as well as noticeable weight gain, which you recognise as antihistamine effects. Which of the following is not a side effect of TCAs?
a. Orthostatic hypotension
b. Hypersalivation
c. Urinary retention
d. Blurred vision
e. Constipation
b. Hypersalivation
Mr J, a 45 years old has been worried about not having enough money to sustain his family for thirty years. After consulting with his doctor, he is diagnosed with a generalised anxiety disorder that is perpetuated by financial worries. What is the first line treatment for his anxiety disorder?
a. Benzodiazepine
b. Antipsychotic
c. SSRI
d. Anticonvulsant
e. Monoamine oxidase inhibitor
c. SSRI
A known chronic anxiety patient comes to your consultation rooms complaining of a history of vertigo, double vision and anterograde amnesia that started within a week of the last visit and suspects the drugs that were added to their medication. Which one of the following drugs is likely to be the cause of the patient’s complaints?
a. Escitalopram
b. Fluoxetine
c. Paracetamol
d. Lorazepam
e. Erythromycin
d. Lorazepam
Mrs X, 23 years old and 3 weeks pregnant, presents to your practice with a complaint of having seizures since she was 16, but recently, they have worsened. You make the diagnosis of epilepsy (generalized seizures). Which one of the following drugs will be the most suitable treatment regimen for her?
a. Phenytoin
b. Lamotrigine
c. Sodium valproate
d. Phenobarbitone
e. Carbamazepine
b. Lamotrigine
Mrs A, a 29-year old female, is suffering from generalised convulsive status epilepticus. In the past month she had two seizures, each lasting longer than 5 minutes. Regarding the management of status epilepticus, which of the following is incorrect?
a. A loading dose of IV phenytoin is administered to prevent relapse
b. Anaesthetic agents like thiopentone, chlormethiazole and propofol are used as a last resort.
c. Blood pressure should be monitored closely during benzodiazepine administration.
d. If seizures persist after the first dose of an IV benzodiazepine, the next step is to administer paraldehyde per rectum
e. Status epilepticus is a medical emergency and rapid suppression of seizure activity is essential.
d. If seizures persist after the first dose of an IV benzodiazepine, the next step is to administer paraldehyde per rectum
Mrs X, a 32 year old female and known epileptic, is 12 weeks pregnant with her first child. She is currently controlled on valproate (Epilim®) 450 mg bd po but consults you worried about the effects the medication might have on her baby. You reassure the patient and reiterate the importance of compliance as seizures during pregnancy may cause a miscarriage or stillbirth. Your management plan for Mrs X is to:
a. a. Decrease total dose of valproate to 600 mg daily (divided doses) po.
b. b. Split dose to tds or qid
c. c. Wean her off valproate in order to change medication
d. a and c.
e. a, b and c.
e. a, b and c.
Mr A is a 22 year old male who suffers from epilepsy. You start him on low dose phenytoin once per day. At the follow-up visit he complains of experiencing physical changes since he started taking this traditional anti-epileptic drug.
Which of the following cannot be due to the phenytoin daily dose?
a. Gum hypertrophy
b. Rash
c. Lymphadenopathy
d. Sedation
e. Cardiac arrhythmia
e. Cardiac arrhythmia
Mr H is a 46 year old man with a 26 pack year history of smoking. He visits your GP practice for assistance to stop smoking. He has been unsuccessfully attempting to stop for the past 5 years. Which of the following statements regarding the treatment of nicotine addiction is correct?
a. Bupropion is an antidepressant that is commonly prescribed for its ability to reduce nicotine tolerance.
b. Varenicline is a commonly prescribed noradrenaline-dopamine reuptake inhibitor used to increase dopamine.
c. Bupropion is a commonly prescribed noradrenaline-dopamine reuptake inhibitor used for its dopaminergic effect.
d. Numerous gums, e-cigarettes and nicotine patches have proven effective therapies due to their nicotinic antagonist ability
e. Varenicline is a low-affinity antagonist for alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtype causing dopamine release.
c. Bupropion is a commonly prescribed noradrenaline-dopamine reuptake inhibitor used for its dopaminergic effect.
Which of the following hallucinogens binds to NMDA receptors?
a. LSD
b. Ketamine
c. Atropine
d. Psilocybin
e. MDMA
b. Ketamine
A 28 year old female patient is receiving treatment for opioid addiction. The first step in the “4-Step Approach” of Subutex Maintenance Treatment is the following:
a. Maintenance
b. Stabilisation
c. Induction
d. Withdrawal
c. Induction
A 22 year old male enters your emergency department complaining of heart palpitations. On examination you notice that he has dilated pupils, an elevated blood pressure, profuse sweating and aggressive behaviour. You suspect the patient may be under the influence of a stimulant; which of the following could be the culprit?
a. Flakka
b. Heroin
c. Alcohol
d. Cocaine
d. Cocaine
A 35 year old male patient comes in the ER with a decreased level of consciousness, shallow breathing and small pupils with a known drug history. You determine that he has suffered an opioid overdose. What is the most appropriate initial treatment? :
a. start him on low dose methadone to avoid withdrawal symptoms
b. start him on IV naloxone
c. counsel the patient on the dangers of drugs and refer him to an addiction program for further help
d. monitor the patient and ensure he has IV fluids
b. start him on IV naloxone
Which of the following substance(s) is classified as a strong opioid agonist:
a. Naloxone
b. Buprenorphine
c. Codeine
d. Naltrexone
e. Fentanyl
e. Fentanyl
Which of the following hallucinogens bind to 5HT2A receptors?
a. A. Ketamine
b. B. Atropine
c. C. LSD
d. D. MDMA
e. C & D
e. C & D
A 21 year old male comes to your GP practice. He has a 3 year history of cannabis use. He is asking for advice on how to quit. Which of the following receptors form part of the endocannabinoid system?
a. NMDA
b. Anandamide
c. Nicotinic receptors
d. GABA receptors
e. 5HT2A
b. Anandamide
A 30 year old male arrives at the emergency department with a history of MDMA use. Which of the following clinical effects can you expect?
a. sweating
b. enhanced ability to concentrate
c. None of the above
d. increased appetite
a. sweating
A 20 year old patient is brought into the Emergency Department unconscious. He has constricted pupils, decreased respiratory rate and a low BP.
If the patient has overdosed on opioids, what would your immediate management be?
a. pump the patient’s stomach
b. methadone treatment
c. naloxone infusion IV
d. administer benzodiazepines
e. supportive management with subsequent counselling and refer the patient to a rehab facility
c. naloxone infusion IV
A 53-year-old man is brought to the emergency department because of wheezing and shortness of breath that began 1 hour after he took a new medication. Earlier in the day he was diagnosed with stable angina pectoris and prescribed a drug that irreversibly inhibits cyclooxygenase-1 and 2. He has chronic rhinosinusitis and asthma treated with inhaled β-adrenergic agonists and corticosteroids. His respirations are 26/min. Examination shows multiple small, erythematous nasal mucosal lesions. After the patient is stabilized, therapy for primary prevention of coronary artery disease should be switched to a drug with which of the following mechanisms of action?
a. Inhibition of vitamin K epoxide reductase
b. Potentiation of antithrombin III
c. Sequestration of Ca2+ ions
d. Blockade of P2Y12 component of ADP receptors
e. Direct inhibition of factor Xa
d. Blockade of P2Y12 component of ADP receptors
A 65-year-old woman comes to the physician because of a 3-month history of progressive shortness of breath and a dry cough. She has also noticed gradual development of facial discoloration. She has coronary artery disease, hypertension, and atrial fibrillation. She does not remember which medications she takes. Her temperature is 37°C, pulse is 90/min, respirations are 18/min, and blood pressure is 150/85 mm Hg. Pulse oximetry on room air shows an oxygen saturation of 95%. Examination shows blue-grey discoloration of the face and both hands. Diffuse inspiratory crackles are heard. An x-ray of the chest shows reticular opacities around the lung periphery and particularly around the lung bases. The most likely cause of this patient’s findings is an adverse effect to which of the following medications?
a. Amiodarone
b. Metoprolol
c. Lisinopril
d. Procainamide
e. Digoxin
a. Amiodarone
A 72-year-old man with coronary artery disease comes to the physician because of intermittent episodes of substernal chest pain and shortness of breath. The episodes occur only when walking up stairs and resolves after resting for a few minutes. He is a delivery man and is concerned because the chest pain has impacted his ability to work. His pulse is 98/min and blood pressure is 132/77 mm Hg. Physical examination is unremarkable. An ECG shows no abnormalities. A drug that blocks which of the following is most likely to prevent future episodes of chest pain from occurring?
a. Beta adrenergic receptors
b. HMGCo-A reductase enzymes
c. Aldosterone receptors
d. Angiotensin II receptors
e. Alpha adrenergic receptors
a. Beta adrenergic receptors
A 55-year-old woman comes to the emergency room 30 minutes after the sudden onset of chest pain radiating to the left shoulder. Prior to the onset of her symptoms, she was lying in bed because of a migraine headache. Episodes of similar chest pain usually resolved after a couple of minutes. She has smoked one pack of cigarettes daily for 20 years. Her only medication is sumatriptan. An ECG shows ST-segment elevations in the anterior leads. Serum troponins are negative on two successive blood draws and ECG shows no abnormalities 30 minutes later. Administration of which of the following is most likely to prevent further episodes of chest pain in this patient?
a. Ramipril
b. Aspirin
c. Diltiazem
d. Clopidogrel
e. Propranolol
c. Diltiazem
A 59-year-old man is brought to the emergency department one hour after developing shortness of breath and “squeezing” chest pain that began while he was mowing the lawn. He has asthma, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. Current medications include salmeterol, amlodipine, lisinopril, and vardenafil. His pulse is 110/min and blood pressure is 122/70 mm Hg. Physical examination shows diaphoresis. An ECG shows sinus tachycardia. Sublingual nitroglycerin is administered. Five minutes later, his pulse is 137/min and his blood pressure is 78/40 mm Hg. Which of the following is the most likely mechanism of this patient’s hypotension?
a. Histamine release
b. Cyclic GMP elevation
c. Bradykinin accumulation
d. Decreased nitric oxide production
e. Calcium channel antagonism
b. Cyclic GMP elevation
A 78-year-old man is brought to the emergency department by ambulance 30 minutes after the sudden onset of speech difficulties and right-sided arm and leg weakness. Examination shows paralysis and hypoesthesia on the right side, positive Babinski sign on the right, and slurred speech. A CT scan of the head shows a hyperdensity in the left middle cerebral artery and no evidence of intracranial bleeding. The patient’s symptoms improve rapidly after pharmacotherapy is initiated and his weakness completely resolves. Which of the following drugs was most likely administered?
a. Heparin
b. Warfarin
c. Alteplase
d. Rivaroxaban
e. Prasugrel
c. Alteplase
A 45-year-old male patient presents with pallor, dyspnoea, postural dizziness and fatigue. A FBC is done and the following is found: Hb = 9 g/dL, Hct = 30% and an MCV of 75. What could the diagnosis be?
a. Vitamin B12 deficiency
b. Bone marrow failure
c. Sickle cell disease
d. Reticulocytosis
e. All of the above
c. Sickle cell disease
Which one of the following is NOT an indication for the use of epoetin?
a. Chronic renal failure, causing subsequent anaemia
b. Anaemia caused by folate-deficiency
c. Anaemia of AIDS, which is exacerbated by zidovudine
d. Increasing the yield of autologous blood before a blood donation
e. Anaemia caused by chemotherapy
b. Anaemia caused by folate-deficiency
Miss Crawford is a 73-year-old who has anaemia due to a vitamin B12 deficiency. Which of the following features are not likely to be observed in her?
a. Elevated serum methylmalonic acid
b. Cobalamin level of < 200 pg/mL
c. MCV > 100
d. Decreased serum homocysteine
e. Neuropsychiatric symptoms
d. Decreased serum homocysteine
Mr. Swift is a 58-year-old diabetic patient on dialysis due to chronic kidney disease. What is the target haemoglobin level for patients on dialysis?
a. 9 - 10 g/dL
b. 10.5 - 11.5 g/dL
c. 10 - 11 g/dL
d. 11 - 12 g/dL
e. 12 - 13 g/dL
d. 11 - 12 g/dL
Which Vitamin K-dependant coagulation factor is not inhibited by warfarin
a. XII
b. IX
c. X
d. II
a. XII
Which of the following statements is false with regards to warfarin?
a. Patient response is affected by levels of dietary Vit K
b. Bridging with heparin is needed if immediate effect is required
c. It is metabolised by the liver
d. Deficiency of protein S may cause skin necrosis
e. None of the above
d. Deficiency of protein S may cause skin necrosis
Which statement about streptokinase is false?
a. Risk of cerebral haemorrhage
b. Severe allergic reactions are rare
c. May be associated with hypotension
d. Non-antigenic – does not cause antibody formation
d. Non-antigenic – does not cause antibody formation
Which of the following is false with regards to vitamin K antagonists
a. Frequent INR monitoring and dose adjustment required
b. Slow onset/offset of action
c. Increased risk of bleeding.
d. Broad therapeutic window
e. Multiple drug-drug interactions
d. Broad therapeutic window
Which type of anticoagulant is used in long-term anticoagulation?
a. Direct oral anticoagulant
b. LMWH
c. Vitamin K antagonist
d. Fondaparinux
e. UFH
c. Vitamin K antagonist