PHARMACOLOGY ESSENTIALS FOR
MEDICATION SAFETY STUDY GUIDE
SUMMARY WITH SOLVED QUESTIONS
EXAM READY 2026
‣ Antibiotic Resistance . Answer: The ability of a bacterium to resist the
effects of antibacterials
‣ Bactericidal . Answer: A drug that reduces the number of bacteria by
killing them directly
‣ Bacteriostatic . Answer: A drug that reduces the number of bacteria by
preventing them from dividing and growing rather than directly killing
them
‣ Cell Wall Synthesis Inhibitors . Answer: A class of antibacterial drugs
that kills susceptible bacteria by preventing them from forming strong,
protective cell walls
‣ Drug Generation . Answer: Stage of drug development in which later
generations are changed slightly to improve their effectiveness or means
of administration
‣ Fluoroquinolones . Answer: A group of drugs from the DNA synthesis
inhibitor class tha tenter bacterial cells and prevent bacteria reproduction
,by suppressing the action of two enzymes important in making bacterial
DNA
‣ Metabolism inhibitors . Answer: A class of antibacterial drugs that
interfere with bacterial reproduction by preventing the bacteria from
making folic acid
‣ Protein Synthesis Inhibitors . Answer: A large class of antibacterial
drugs that includes aminoglycosides, macrolides, and tetracyclines,
which prevent bacteria from making proteins important to their life
cycles and infective processes
‣ Spectrum of efficacy . Answer: A measure of how many different
types of bacteria a drug can kill or prevent from growing
‣ Susceptible Organisms . Answer: Bacteria or other organisms that
either can be killed by or have their reproduction reduced by an
antibacterial drug
‣ Virulence . Answer: The measure of how well bacteria can invade and
spread despite a normal immune response.
‣ Review of Related Physiologic And Pathophysiology pg 114
_________ bacteria coexist with us, causing no systemic disease or
tissue damage and are considered normal flora . Answer: Nonpathogenic
,‣ Review of Related Physiologic And Pathophysiology pg 114
_____ _____ are the nonpathogenic bacteria that we always have on
skin, mucous membranes and in the digestive tract. . Answer: Normal
Flora
‣ Review of Related Physiologic And Pathophysiology pg 114
________ bacteria cause disease and tissue damage only in someone
whose immune system is not working well. . Answer: Opportunistic
‣ Bacterial features pg 115
The _______ of bacteria is a measure of how well they can invade and
spread despite a normal immune response. . Answer: Virulence
‣ Bactericidal and Bacteriostatic Drugs pg 115
Some antibacterial drugs are _______, which means that they can kill
bacteria directly. . Answer: Bactericidal
‣ Bactericidal and Bacteriostatic Drugs pg 115
, Other antibacterial drugs are _________, which means that they prevent
bacteria from reproducing until the body's own white blood cells and
antibodies get rid of the, . Answer: Bacteriostatic
‣ Bactericidal and Bacteriostatic Drugs pg 115
If a person's immune system is not working well, he or she would
benefit from a _______ drug and not a _______ drug. . Answer:
Bactericidal
Bacteriostatic
‣ Memory Jogger pg 115
_________ bacteria are those that can cause damage or tissue disease
________ bacteria do not cause disease or damage unless they overgrow
or are present in a susceptible body area
_________ bacteria cause disease or tissue damage only when the
immune system is impaired . Answer: Pathogenic
Non Pathogenic
Opportunistic
‣ Memory Jogger pg 115
________ drugs directly kill bacteria
MEDICATION SAFETY STUDY GUIDE
SUMMARY WITH SOLVED QUESTIONS
EXAM READY 2026
‣ Antibiotic Resistance . Answer: The ability of a bacterium to resist the
effects of antibacterials
‣ Bactericidal . Answer: A drug that reduces the number of bacteria by
killing them directly
‣ Bacteriostatic . Answer: A drug that reduces the number of bacteria by
preventing them from dividing and growing rather than directly killing
them
‣ Cell Wall Synthesis Inhibitors . Answer: A class of antibacterial drugs
that kills susceptible bacteria by preventing them from forming strong,
protective cell walls
‣ Drug Generation . Answer: Stage of drug development in which later
generations are changed slightly to improve their effectiveness or means
of administration
‣ Fluoroquinolones . Answer: A group of drugs from the DNA synthesis
inhibitor class tha tenter bacterial cells and prevent bacteria reproduction
,by suppressing the action of two enzymes important in making bacterial
DNA
‣ Metabolism inhibitors . Answer: A class of antibacterial drugs that
interfere with bacterial reproduction by preventing the bacteria from
making folic acid
‣ Protein Synthesis Inhibitors . Answer: A large class of antibacterial
drugs that includes aminoglycosides, macrolides, and tetracyclines,
which prevent bacteria from making proteins important to their life
cycles and infective processes
‣ Spectrum of efficacy . Answer: A measure of how many different
types of bacteria a drug can kill or prevent from growing
‣ Susceptible Organisms . Answer: Bacteria or other organisms that
either can be killed by or have their reproduction reduced by an
antibacterial drug
‣ Virulence . Answer: The measure of how well bacteria can invade and
spread despite a normal immune response.
‣ Review of Related Physiologic And Pathophysiology pg 114
_________ bacteria coexist with us, causing no systemic disease or
tissue damage and are considered normal flora . Answer: Nonpathogenic
,‣ Review of Related Physiologic And Pathophysiology pg 114
_____ _____ are the nonpathogenic bacteria that we always have on
skin, mucous membranes and in the digestive tract. . Answer: Normal
Flora
‣ Review of Related Physiologic And Pathophysiology pg 114
________ bacteria cause disease and tissue damage only in someone
whose immune system is not working well. . Answer: Opportunistic
‣ Bacterial features pg 115
The _______ of bacteria is a measure of how well they can invade and
spread despite a normal immune response. . Answer: Virulence
‣ Bactericidal and Bacteriostatic Drugs pg 115
Some antibacterial drugs are _______, which means that they can kill
bacteria directly. . Answer: Bactericidal
‣ Bactericidal and Bacteriostatic Drugs pg 115
, Other antibacterial drugs are _________, which means that they prevent
bacteria from reproducing until the body's own white blood cells and
antibodies get rid of the, . Answer: Bacteriostatic
‣ Bactericidal and Bacteriostatic Drugs pg 115
If a person's immune system is not working well, he or she would
benefit from a _______ drug and not a _______ drug. . Answer:
Bactericidal
Bacteriostatic
‣ Memory Jogger pg 115
_________ bacteria are those that can cause damage or tissue disease
________ bacteria do not cause disease or damage unless they overgrow
or are present in a susceptible body area
_________ bacteria cause disease or tissue damage only when the
immune system is impaired . Answer: Pathogenic
Non Pathogenic
Opportunistic
‣ Memory Jogger pg 115
________ drugs directly kill bacteria
