Antimicrobials: piperacillin-tazobactam: practice question

A Pharmacology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pharmacology · Antimicrobials: piperacillin-tazobactam

Sample item

A diabetic patient has a hospital-acquired intra-abdominal infection with suspected Pseudomonas and anaerobes. Which drug has both antipseudomonal and anaerobic cover?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Piperacillin-tazobactam

Piperacillin is an extended-spectrum antipseudomonal penicillin, and tazobactam inhibits beta-lactamases to widen cover against gram-negative bacilli and anaerobes. Ceftriaxone has no antipseudomonal action.

Option by option

  • A. Piperacillin-tazobactam (correct)

    Correct. It covers Pseudomonas and anaerobes.

  • B. Gentamicin alone

    Gentamicin has no anaerobic activity.

  • C. Ceftriaxone

    Ceftriaxone lacks Pseudomonas activity.

  • D. Amoxicillin

    Amoxicillin lacks antipseudomonal cover.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Pharmacology questions

Questions about this Pharmacology question

What is the answer to this Pharmacology question?

The best answer is A, Piperacillin-tazobactam. Piperacillin is an extended-spectrum antipseudomonal penicillin, and tazobactam inhibits beta-lactamases to widen cover against gram-negative bacilli and anaerobes.

Why is "Gentamicin alone" not the answer?

Gentamicin has no anaerobic activity.

Why is "Ceftriaxone" not the answer?

Ceftriaxone lacks Pseudomonas activity.

Why is "Amoxicillin" not the answer?

Amoxicillin lacks antipseudomonal cover.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Antimicrobials: piperacillin-tazobactam in Pharmacology. Ceftriaxone has no antipseudomonal action.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Antimicrobials: piperacillin-tazobactam?

Learn drugs as classes, then the exception in each class that an examiner would pick. Then use the flashcards and the other Pharmacology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.