Paper II — 2019 July (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) — Q4

Paper II

2019 July (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)

Question

Antibiotic resistance

Q43 marksShort Notes★✓

Answer

Antibiotic resistance is the ability of a microorganism to survive and multiply in the presence of a concentration of an antibiotic that would normally inhibit or kill it.

Mechanisms of resistance

• Enzymatic drug inactivation (e.g., beta-lactamases hydrolysing penicillins)
• Alteration of drug target site (e.g., altered penicillin-binding proteins in MRSA)
• Decreased drug permeability/uptake (altered porins in Gram-negative bacteria)
• Increased efflux of the drug out of the bacterial cell
• Development of alternative metabolic pathways (e.g., sulfonamide resistance)

Genetic basis

• Chromosomal mutation
• Plasmid-mediated (transferable) resistance — spread via conjugation, transduction, transformation

Consequences and prevention

• Treatment failure, increased morbidity/mortality, higher healthcare costs
• Rational antibiotic use, avoiding unnecessary prescriptions, completing prescribed courses, combination therapy where appropriate, infection control measures, and antibiotic stewardship programs help curb resistance development

Related Concepts

1. 1Antimicrobials General Considerations

Other Years Asked

1. 1(2023 July (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme)Short Essay · 8 marks
2. 2Read the clinical problem and answer the following questions: 40 years old man who was on metronidazole for amoebic dysentery went to a cocktail party where he consumed alcohol. After some time, he started developing symptoms like flushing, burning sensation, throbbing headache, dizziness, tightness in chest, vomiting.2014 March (2010 Scheme)Essay · 6 marks
3. 3Explain prophylactic use of antimicrobials giving suitable examples.2024 December (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme)Short Essay · 6 marks
4. 4Pharmacological basis for the use of Benzathine Penicillin in Rheumatic fever prophylaxis.2023 July (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme)Short Answer · 4 marks
5. 5Management of Hospital Acquired Infections.2023 July (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme)Short Answer · 4 marks
6. 6Metronidazole.2013 September (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Note · 3 marks
7. 7Superinfection2021 December (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Note · 3 marks
8. 8Metronidazole2013 April (2010 Scheme)Short Note · 3 marks
9. 9Metronidazole2017 August (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Note · 3 marks
10. 10Burns infected with pseudomonas aeruginosa2015 September (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 1 mark
11. 11Chemoprophylaxis of surgical site infection2013 April (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 1 mark
12. 12Vancomycin2021 May (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 1 mark
13. 13Specify the important spectrum of vancomycin2014 September (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 1 mark
14. 14Prophylaxis of rheumatic fever2017 August (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 1 mark
15. 15Mention four uses of metronidazole2016 October (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 1 mark
16. 16Rationale of combining trimethoprim with sulfamethoxazole2018 February (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 1 mark
17. 17Urinary tract infections2014 September (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 1 mark
18. 18What is post antibiotic effect and mention one example2016 October (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 1 mark
19. 19Assertion (A): Ticarcillin is combined with Gentamicin for Pseudomonas infection, especially in neutropenic patients. Reason (R): Ticarcillin inhibits cell wall synthesis and Gentamicin inhibits protein synthesis and both of them are bactericidal.2024 December (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme)MCQ · 1 mark
20. 20Prevention of AIDS in the new born2013 April (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 1 mark
21. 21Pseudomembranous colitis.2013 September (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 1 mark
22. 22Drugs for urinary tract infection2022 October (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 0.3 marks
23. 23Norfloxacin in urinary tract infection2021 February (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 0.3 marks