Antimicrobials: 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

Sample item

What is a common adverse effect of broad-spectrum antibiotics?

AGuaranteed cure of viral illnessBNo microbiome effectCImproved vitamin K statusDSecondary Clostridioides difficile infection

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Secondary Clostridioides difficile infection

Broad-spectrum antibiotics can disrupt protective gut flora and permit Clostridioides difficile overgrowth, causing antibiotic-associated diarrhea or colitis.

Option by option

A. Guaranteed cure of viral illness
Antibiotics do not cure viral illness.
B. No microbiome effect
Broad-spectrum drugs can substantially alter the microbiome.
C. Improved vitamin K status
Antibiotics can reduce rather than improve gut vitamin production.
D. Secondary Clostridioides difficile infection (correct)
Correct: flora disruption increases C. difficile infection risk.

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, Secondary Clostridioides difficile infection. Broad-spectrum antibiotics can disrupt protective gut flora and permit Clostridioides difficile overgrowth, causing antibiotic-associated diarrhea or colitis.

Why is "Guaranteed cure of viral illness" not the answer?

Antibiotics do not cure viral illness.

Why is "No microbiome effect" not the answer?

Broad-spectrum drugs can substantially alter the microbiome.

Why is "Improved vitamin K status" not the answer?

Antibiotics can reduce rather than improve gut vitamin production.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Antimicrobials in Pharmacology. The correct option holds because: Correct: flora disruption increases C. difficile infection risk.

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?

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.