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.

Try it

Pharmacology · Antimicrobials

Sample item

Which drug causes 'gray baby syndrome' in neonates?

AChloramphenicolBCiprofloxacinCTetracyclineDGentamicin

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Chloramphenicol

Neonates lack the glucuronyl transferase needed to conjugate chloramphenicol, so it accumulates and causes vomiting, hypotension, cyanosis and circulatory collapse. Tetracyclines stain teeth, aminoglycosides are ototoxic and fluoroquinolones affect cartilage.

Option by option

A. Chloramphenicol (correct)
Correct. Immature glucuronidation leads to toxic levels.
B. Ciprofloxacin
Ciprofloxacin can damage growing cartilage and tendons.
C. Tetracycline
Tetracycline causes tooth discolouration and bone effects in children.
D. Gentamicin
Gentamicin causes ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity.

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 A, Chloramphenicol. Neonates lack the glucuronyl transferase needed to conjugate chloramphenicol, so it accumulates and causes vomiting, hypotension, cyanosis and circulatory collapse.

Why is "Ciprofloxacin" not the answer?

Ciprofloxacin can damage growing cartilage and tendons.

Why is "Tetracycline" not the answer?

Tetracycline causes tooth discolouration and bone effects in children.

Why is "Gentamicin" not the answer?

Gentamicin causes ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Antimicrobials in Pharmacology. Tetracyclines stain teeth, aminoglycosides are ototoxic and fluoroquinolones affect cartilage.

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.