PH8.1-11 | Antimicrobial and Chemotherapy Pharmacology — Practice Quiz

A 28-year-old woman is hospitalised with neutropenia (ANC 200/µL) following chemotherapy. She develops fever and blood culture grows Klebsiella pneumoniae. Which of the following antibiotic classes would be MOST appropriate, given that bactericidal activity is essential in immunocompromised patients?

A teaching hospital implements an antibiotic stewardship programme (ASP). Which ONE intervention is the most evidence-based strategy for reducing broad-spectrum antibiotic overuse?

A 55-year-old farmer develops rapidly spreading cellulitis with crepitus and foul-smelling wound discharge. He is empirically started on IV piperacillin-tazobactam. Which statement BEST explains the mechanism by which piperacillin kills bacteria?

A 24-year-old non-pregnant woman presents with dysuria, urgency, and frequency for 2 days. Urine dipstick shows nitrites positive, leucocyte esterase positive. Mid-stream urine culture and sensitivity is sent. What is the MOST appropriate first-line empiric treatment?

A 35-year-old man starts Category I ATT (HRZE) for pulmonary TB. At 4 weeks, he reports tingling and numbness in both feet. His vision is normal. Which drug is MOST likely responsible, and what is the mechanism?

A 38-year-old male from rural Bihar is diagnosed with multibacillary (MB) leprosy (6 skin lesions, slit-skin smear BI 3+). Which WHO MDT regimen should he receive, and for how long?

A 32-year-old woman in her second trimester presents to a district hospital in Jharkhand with 3 days of fever, chills, and rigor. Blood film confirms Plasmodium falciparum (parasitaemia 0.8%), no features of severe malaria. She is conscious and able to take oral medications. Which treatment is MOST appropriate?

A 45-year-old patient with acute myeloid leukaemia on induction chemotherapy develops persistent fever despite broad-spectrum antibacterials. CT chest shows a cavitating lesion with a 'halo sign'. Bronchoalveolar lavage galactomannan is positive. What is the MOST appropriate antifungal therapy?

A 34-year-old man is newly diagnosed with HIV (CD4 count 380/µL, viral load 45,000 copies/mL). He has no opportunistic infections. Which of the following best describes the preferred first-line ART regimen in India under the National AIDS Control Programme?

A 55-year-old woman with breast cancer completes 6 cycles of doxorubicin-containing chemotherapy (cumulative dose 480mg/m²). Three months later she develops progressive exertional dyspnoea and her echocardiogram shows LVEF of 38% (from 65% at baseline). Which statement BEST explains the mechanism of this toxicity?

During a school health survey in a tribal district of Chhattisgarh, 60% of children aged 5–10 years have Ascaris lumbricoides infection on stool examination. The district CMO plans mass drug administration. Which drug is MOST appropriate for this single-dose mass deworming programme?

Blood cultures from a hospitalised patient grow Staphylococcus aureus. The isolate is reported as 'MRSA' (methicillin-resistant S. aureus). Which of the following BEST explains the mechanism of methicillin resistance in this organism?