Question
Metronidazole and ceftriaxone for brain abscess
Q8 1 marks Short Answers ★ ✓
Answer
Brain abscess is often polymicrobial, typically involving a mix of anaerobic and aerobic organisms (including streptococci, and anaerobes from an oral/sinus/otogenic source). Metronidazole provides excellent anaerobic coverage and penetrates the blood-brain barrier well, while ceftriaxone (a third-generation cephalosporin) provides broad aerobic Gram-positive and Gram-negative cover with good CSF/brain tissue penetration. The combination provides broad-spectrum empirical coverage against the likely polymicrobial flora while achieving adequate concentrations at the site of infection, which is essential given the difficulty of obtaining prompt microbiological confirmation in brain abscess.
1 Beta Lactam Antibiotics
Other Years Asked
1 ( 2022 February (2019 Scheme) Essay · 12 marks 2 Enumerate Cephalosporins. Describe their mechanism of action, uses and adverse
effects of third generation Cephalosporins. (4+4) 2023 January (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) Short Essay · 8 marks 3 ( 2024 June (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) Short Essay · 8 marks 4 Enumerate the antibiotics which act by inhibiting cell wall synthesis. Mention the detailed
mechanism of action of any one of them on bacterial cell wall synthesis. Add a note on beta
lactamase inhibitors (2 + 2 +2 = 6) 2014 March (2010 Scheme) Essay · 6 marks 5 Classify cephalosporins. Describe the mechanism of action and clinical uses of ceftriaxone.
Which drug can be combined with amoxicillin to treat infection due to beta lactamase
producing staph. aureus. ( 2+1+2+1 = 6) 2016 February (2010 Scheme) Essay · 6 marks 6 Classify beta lactam antibiotics. Explain the mechanism of action, uses and adverse
effects of ceftriaxone. (2+2+1+1) 2018 July (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Essay · 6 marks 7 Classify cephalosporins. Mention the mechanism of action, adverse effects and uses
of third generation cephalosporin. (2+2+2=6) 2017 February (2010 Scheme) Essay · 6 marks 8 A 50 years old lady complains of pain in the throat and has been diagnosed to
have streptococcal tonsillitis. Answer the following: 2016 October (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Essay · 6 marks 9 Mention Two drugs which can be given to treat enteric fever. Explain the mechanism of action, uses and
adverse effects of any one. (2+4) 2024 December (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) Short Essay · 6 marks 10 4th generation cephalosporins 2017 August (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 3 marks 11 III generation cephalosporin 2023 March (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 3 marks 12 Second generation cephalosporins and its uses. 2013 September (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 3 marks 13 Penicillin 2025 March (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 3 marks 14 Beta-Lactamase inhibitors 2021 May (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 3 marks 15 Specify the important spectrum of ciprofloxacin. 2017 February (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 1 mark 16 Anti pseudomonal drugs 2014 March (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 1 mark 17 Cotrimoxazole is NOT effective against infections caused by: 2024 December (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) MCQ · 1 mark 18 Use of Clavulanic acid with Amoxicillin. 2024 March (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 1 mark 19 Combination of Amoxicillin and Clavulanic acid 2025 August (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 1 mark 20 Assertion (A): Vancomycin is used primarily to treat infections caused by Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Reason (R): Vancomycin inhibits the formation of bacterial cell walls by binding to D-alanyl-
D-alanine, a component of the peptidoglycan precursor. 2025 March (Supplementary (SAY)) (2019 Scheme) MCQ (A/R) · 1 mark 21 Amoxicillin with clavulanic acid 2019 February (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 1 mark 22 Pharmacological basis for combining beta lactamase inhibitors with beta lactam
antibiotics. 2017 February (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 1 mark 23 The potent inhibitor of bacterial cell wall synthesis used for Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections is: 2025 March (Supplementary (SAY)) (2019 Scheme) MCQ · 1 mark 24 Gentamicin 2024 August (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 1 mark 25 Mention anti pseudomonal penicillins 2013 September (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 1 mark 26 Cilastatin with Imipenem 2022 May (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 1 mark 27 Gram negative septicemia 2014 September (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 1 mark 28 Clavulanic acid with Amoxicillin 2023 March (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 1 mark 29 Tocolytics 2020 February (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 0.3 marks 30 Antipseudomonal cephalosporins 2021 May (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 0.3 marks 31 Third generation cephalosporins 2024 August (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 0.3 marks 32 Fourth generation cephalosporins in MRSA infection 2019 July (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 0.3 marks 33 Drugs effective against both gram positive & gram negative organisms 2019 February (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 0.3 marks 34 Anti-seborrheic agents 2019 February (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 0.3 marks 35 Iron chelators 2021 May (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 0.3 marks 36 Anticancer antibiotics 2021 December (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 0.3 marks 37 Drugs used in Penicillinase producing staphylococcal infections. 2022 July (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) Short Answer · 0.2 marks