Bone and joint infections: monitoring treatment response: practice question

A Orthopaedics 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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Orthopaedics · Bone and joint infections: monitoring treatment response

Sample item

A child is on intravenous antibiotics for acute haematogenous osteomyelitis. Which blood test normalises fastest and is most useful for early monitoring of response?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. C-reactive protein

C-reactive protein rises within hours, peaks at about two days and falls to normal within roughly a week of effective treatment, so a failure to fall suggests an undrained collection or an ineffective drug. ESR peaks later and takes weeks to settle, and the leucocyte count is often normal.

Option by option

  • A. Serum alkaline phosphatase

    Alkaline phosphatase reflects bone turnover and does not follow infection activity.

  • B. C-reactive protein (correct)

    Correct. It responds within days and tracks treatment response.

  • C. Total leucocyte count

    The leucocyte count is frequently normal in bone infection and is a poor monitor.

  • D. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate

    ESR rises slowly, peaks after several days and takes weeks to normalise.

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.

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Questions about this Orthopaedics question

What is the answer to this Orthopaedics question?

The best answer is B, C-reactive protein. C-reactive protein rises within hours, peaks at about two days and falls to normal within roughly a week of effective treatment, so a failure to fall suggests an undrained collection or an ineffective drug.

Why is "Serum alkaline phosphatase" not the answer?

Alkaline phosphatase reflects bone turnover and does not follow infection activity.

Why is "Total leucocyte count" not the answer?

The leucocyte count is frequently normal in bone infection and is a poor monitor.

Why is "Erythrocyte sedimentation rate" not the answer?

ESR rises slowly, peaks after several days and takes weeks to normalise.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Bone and joint infections: monitoring treatment response in Orthopaedics. ESR peaks later and takes weeks to settle, and the leucocyte count is often normal.

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 Bone and joint infections: monitoring treatment response?

Pair each fracture with its classic complication and nerve injured. Then use the flashcards and the other Orthopaedics 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.