Antimicrobials: luminal amoebicide after liver abscess: 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: luminal amoebicide after liver abscess

Sample item

A 35-year-old man completes metronidazole for an amoebic liver abscess. To eradicate Entamoeba histolytica cysts in the gut lumen and prevent relapse, which drug should now be given?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Diloxanide furoate

Metronidazole is a tissue amoebicide that is mostly absorbed before reaching the colon, so it may not clear luminal cysts. A luminal amoebicide such as diloxanide furoate or paromomycin is then given to prevent relapse and transmission.

Option by option

  • A. Tinidazole

    Tinidazole is a nitroimidazole tissue amoebicide like metronidazole.

  • B. Chloroquine

    Chloroquine is a tissue agent used for hepatic amoebiasis and does not act on luminal cysts.

  • C. Diloxanide furoate (correct)

    Correct. Diloxanide furoate acts in the gut lumen against cysts.

  • D. Doxycycline

    Doxycycline is an adjunct in some regimens but is not a primary luminal agent.

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 Pharmacology questions

Questions about this Pharmacology question

What is the answer to this Pharmacology question?

The best answer is C, Diloxanide furoate. Metronidazole is a tissue amoebicide that is mostly absorbed before reaching the colon, so it may not clear luminal cysts.

Why is "Tinidazole" not the answer?

Tinidazole is a nitroimidazole tissue amoebicide like metronidazole.

Why is "Chloroquine" not the answer?

Chloroquine is a tissue agent used for hepatic amoebiasis and does not act on luminal cysts.

Why is "Doxycycline" not the answer?

Doxycycline is an adjunct in some regimens but is not a primary luminal agent.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Antimicrobials: luminal amoebicide after liver abscess in Pharmacology. A luminal amoebicide such as diloxanide furoate or paromomycin is then given to prevent relapse and transmission.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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: luminal amoebicide after liver abscess?

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.