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Pharmacology MCQ practice

Antimicrobial Pharmacology Quiz

Practise antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antimycobacterial, and antiparasitic pharmacology using concise clinical MCQs.

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Sample Questions

Therapeutic monitoring

Gentamicin is prescribed for sepsis. Which monitoring is most important after repeat dosing?

  • Peak expiratory flow
  • Platelet aggregation
  • Renal function and drug concentrations
  • INR only

Answer: Renal function and drug concentrations

Gentamicin needs renal and concentration monitoring.

INR, peak flow, and platelet tests do not monitor aminoglycoside nephrotoxicity.

Patient counselling

A patient prescribed metronidazole asks what to avoid during treatment. What counselling is best?

  • Avoid grapefruit only
  • Avoid alcohol during treatment and shortly after
  • Take alcohol to reduce nausea
  • Avoid dairy with every dose

Answer: Avoid alcohol during treatment and shortly after

Metronidazole can cause unpleasant reactions with alcohol.

Dairy and grapefruit are not the key counselling issue; alcohol can worsen adverse effects.

Opportunistic infections

A transplant patient receives valganciclovir for CMV. Which toxicity needs blood-count monitoring?

  • Hyperkalaemia
  • Serotonin syndrome
  • Ototoxicity
  • Neutropenia

Answer: Neutropenia

Valganciclovir can suppress bone marrow.

Potassium excess, serotonin toxicity, and ototoxicity are not the key CMV antiviral monitoring issue.

Opportunistic infections

IV aciclovir is prescribed for encephalitis. Which prescribing step reduces renal harm?

  • Add ibuprofen for renal pain
  • Ignore creatinine until discharge
  • Hydrate and adjust dose for renal function
  • Give rapid boluses without fluids

Answer: Hydrate and adjust dose for renal function

Aciclovir renal injury risk is reduced by hydration and dose review.

Bolus dosing, NSAIDs, or ignoring renal function increases nephrotoxicity risk.

Adverse-effect recognition

Vancomycin infusion causes flushing and itching soon after starting. What is the best immediate response?

  • Stop or slow infusion and assess the patient
  • Speed up the infusion
  • Ignore symptoms if no rash is visible
  • Give IM adrenaline every time

Answer: Stop or slow infusion and assess the patient

Rapid vancomycin infusion can trigger flushing.

Faster infusion worsens flushing; adrenaline is reserved for anaphylaxis; symptoms need assessment.

Antibacterials: Ceftriaxone

Before or during ceftriaxone therapy, what action best improves safety?

  • Review statins and QT-risk medicines
  • Monitor serum concentration
  • Monitor thyroid, liver, lung, and ECG status
  • Avoid calcium co-infusion in neonates

Answer: Avoid calcium co-infusion in neonates

Ceftriaxone counselling includes avoiding calcium co-infusion in neonates.

The safeguard distractors point to clarithromycin, theophylline, or amiodarone.

Learning Design

Drugzzle uses brief single-best-answer rounds, immediate feedback, confidence reflection, and missed-question review to support retrieval practice and safer prescribing reasoning.