Pharmacology - Antimicrobial Agents
2010/1: Describe the mechanism of action of gentamicin. What are the benefits of once daily dosing? How do penicillins enhance the efficacy of gentamicin?
2009/1: Name some macrolide antibiotics. What is their mechanism of action? What organisms are usually sensitive to macrolides?
2009/1: What classes of antibiotics are used in the treatment of staphylococcal infections? Whatr is the mechanism of resistance in methacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus? What are the adverse effects of vancomycin?
2009/1: Describe the mechanism of action of acyclovir. What are the indications for acyclovir?
2008/2: Describe the pharmacokinetics of metronidazole. What are the adverse effects of metronidazole?
2008/2: How are the cephalosporins classified and give examples. What are the adverse effects of the cephalosporins?
2008/2: Describe the mechanism of action of gentamicin. What are the benefits of once-daily dosing?
2008/1: What is the mechanism of action of the fluoroquinolones? What are the mechanisms of resistance to the fluoroquinolones? What are the clinical uses of ciprofloxacin?
2008/1: How does penicillin exert its action? What are the mechanisms of resistance to beta lactam antibiotics?
2007/1: Why is once-daily dosing advocated for gentamicin? Why is gentamicin usually used in combination with another anbiotic? What is the mechanism of action of gentamicin and how does resistance develop?
2007/1: What are the adverse effects of chloramphenicol? Which bacteria does it affect? What is the mechanism of action?
2007/1: What is an antiseptic? Describe the actions and uses of chlorhexidine. When is chlorhexidine contraindicated?
2006/2: Describe the mechanism of action of penicillin. What are the important mechanisms of resistance to penicillins? Describe the pharmacokinetics of penicillin.
2006/2: What is the mechanism of action of trimethoprim? Why are sulphonamides synergistic with trimethoprim? What are the mechanisms of bacterial resistance to trimethoprim?
2005/1: What are the clinical manifestations of penicillin allergy? What other side effects of penicillin treatment do you know of?
2005/1: Describe the mechanism of antimicrobial activity of azithromycin. How does azithromycin differ from other antibiotics in its class?
2005/1: Describe the mechanism of antimicrobial activity of the sulphonamides. Why is trimethoprim commonly administered in combination with sulfamethoxazole?
2004/2: How do you classify cephalosporins? Expand on this in terms of their spectrum of activity.
2004/2: What is the mechanism of action of quinolones? Describe the antibacterial spectrum of the quinolones. What are the possible adverse effects of the quinolones in children?
2003/2: Regarding gentamicin, outline its pharmacokinetic properties. What are the reasons for once-daily dosing of gentamicin?
2003/2: How do tetracyclines exert their antimicrobial activity? Describe the pharmacokinetics of the tetracyclines. Are there any groups of patients where tetracyclines are contraindicated and why?
2003/2: Regarding the penicillins, what is their mechanism of action? How do bacteria become resistant to penicillins? How are penicillins eliminated? How does probenecid alter the elimination of some penicillins?
2003/1: What is the mechanism of action of doxycycline? How does resistance to doxycycline develop? What are the clinical uses of doxycycline?
2003/1: What is the mechanism of action of ciprofloxacin? What are the uses of this drug? What are the adverse effects of ciprofloxacin?