Communicable diseases: leptospirosis prophylaxis: practice question

A PSM 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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PSM · Communicable diseases: leptospirosis prophylaxis

Sample item

After heavy rains, a group of paddy field workers must wade in flooded water for several weeks in a leptospirosis-endemic area. Which chemoprophylaxis is recommended for them?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Doxycycline 200 mg once weekly

Leptospirosis spreads through contact of broken skin or mucosa with water contaminated by rat urine. Doxycycline 200 mg once weekly is recommended for high-risk exposure such as flood work, and the same drug at treatment doses is used for mild disease. Other measures include rodent control, protective footwear and avoiding wading when possible.

Option by option

  • A. Doxycycline 200 mg once weekly (correct)

    Correct. Weekly doxycycline is the standard prophylaxis for occupational exposure.

  • B. Benzathine penicillin monthly

    Monthly benzathine penicillin is not the recommended prophylactic regimen for leptospirosis.

  • C. Ciprofloxacin 500 mg daily

    Daily ciprofloxacin is not recommended for leptospirosis prophylaxis.

  • D. Chloroquine 300 mg once weekly

    Chloroquine is a malaria drug and has no action against leptospires.

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 PSM questions

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is A, Doxycycline 200 mg once weekly. Leptospirosis spreads through contact of broken skin or mucosa with water contaminated by rat urine.

Why is "Benzathine penicillin monthly" not the answer?

Monthly benzathine penicillin is not the recommended prophylactic regimen for leptospirosis.

Why is "Ciprofloxacin 500 mg daily" not the answer?

Daily ciprofloxacin is not recommended for leptospirosis prophylaxis.

Why is "Chloroquine 300 mg once weekly" not the answer?

Chloroquine is a malaria drug and has no action against leptospires.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Communicable diseases: leptospirosis prophylaxis in PSM. Doxycycline 200 mg once weekly is recommended for high-risk exposure such as flood work, and the same drug at treatment doses is used for mild disease. Other measures include rodent control, protective footwear and avoiding wading when possible.

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 Communicable diseases: leptospirosis prophylaxis?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM 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.