Antimicrobials: tigecycline: 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.

Try it

Pharmacology · Antimicrobials: tigecycline

Sample item

A patient with complicated intra-abdominal infection due to multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacilli receives tigecycline. Which statement is correct?

AIt is safe in children for all indicationsBIt is reliably active against PseudomonasCIt achieves high serum and urinary concentrationDIt covers many resistant organisms but not Pseudomonas, and causes nausea, and it should not be used for bacteraemia alone

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. It covers many resistant organisms but not Pseudomonas, and causes nausea, and it should not be used for bacteraemia alone

Tigecycline is a glycylcycline that evades tetracycline resistance mechanisms and is active against MRSA, VRE and many gram-negative bacilli, but not Pseudomonas or Proteus. Nausea is common, serum levels are low, and urinary levels are inadequate.

Option by option

A. It is safe in children for all indications
Tetracyclines are avoided in children under eight due to teeth effects.
B. It is reliably active against Pseudomonas
It lacks reliable Pseudomonas activity.
C. It achieves high serum and urinary concentration
Serum and urine levels are low.
D. It covers many resistant organisms but not Pseudomonas, and causes nausea, and it should not be used for bacteraemia alone (correct)
Correct. This reflects its spectrum and limits.

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.

Questions about this Pharmacology question

What is the answer to this Pharmacology question?

The best answer is D, It covers many resistant organisms but not Pseudomonas, and causes nausea, and it should not be used for bacteraemia alone. Tigecycline is a glycylcycline that evades tetracycline resistance mechanisms and is active against MRSA, VRE and many gram-negative bacilli, but not Pseudomonas or Proteus.

Why is "It is safe in children for all indications" not the answer?

Tetracyclines are avoided in children under eight due to teeth effects.

Why is "It is reliably active against Pseudomonas" not the answer?

It lacks reliable Pseudomonas activity.

Why is "It achieves high serum and urinary concentration" not the answer?

Serum and urine levels are low.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Antimicrobials: tigecycline in Pharmacology. Nausea is common, serum levels are low, and urinary levels are inadequate.

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: tigecycline?

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.