Leptospirosis: chemoprophylaxis: 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 · Leptospirosis: chemoprophylaxis

Sample item

After floods, a group of rescue workers will spend several weeks wading through contaminated waters and paddy fields in an endemic area. Which chemoprophylaxis is recommended for those at high risk?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Oral doxycycline once weekly during the exposure

Leptospira penetrate cuts and wet skin after contact with water contaminated by rat urine. In short-term high-risk exposure such as flood relief, weekly doxycycline reduces the risk of illness. It does not replace protective footwear and wound care.

Option by option

  • A. A single dose of oral azithromycin

    A single dose does not cover weeks of continuing exposure and is not the recommended regimen.

  • B. Oral chloroquine once weekly

    Weekly chloroquine is used for malaria prophylaxis, not for leptospirosis.

  • C. Oral doxycycline once weekly during the exposure (correct)

    Weekly doxycycline is the standard prophylaxis for sustained high-risk exposure.

  • D. Oral albendazole once weekly

    Albendazole is an anthelmintic and has no effect on spirochaetes.

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 C, Oral doxycycline once weekly during the exposure. Leptospira penetrate cuts and wet skin after contact with water contaminated by rat urine.

Why is "A single dose of oral azithromycin" not the answer?

A single dose does not cover weeks of continuing exposure and is not the recommended regimen.

Why is "Oral chloroquine once weekly" not the answer?

Weekly chloroquine is used for malaria prophylaxis, not for leptospirosis.

Why is "Oral albendazole once weekly" not the answer?

Albendazole is an anthelmintic and has no effect on spirochaetes.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Leptospirosis: chemoprophylaxis in PSM. In short-term high-risk exposure such as flood relief, weekly doxycycline reduces the risk of illness. It does not replace protective footwear and wound care.

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 Leptospirosis: chemoprophylaxis?

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.