1|Page
NURS 5334 ANTIMICROBIAL FINAL EXAM 2025–2026 | 100+
VERIFIED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES,
ALREADY GRADED A+
Q1. Which antibiotic is considered bactericidal?
A. Tetracycline
B. Penicillin
C. Erythromycin
D. Sulfonamide
Answer: B
Rationale: Penicillin kills bacteria by interfering with cell wall synthesis, making it
bactericidal.
Q2. The primary action of bacteriostatic antibiotics is to:
A. Kill bacteria immediately
B. Inhibit bacterial growth and replication
C. Disrupt human cell DNA
D. Enhance bacterial virulence
Answer: B
Rationale: Bacteriostatic drugs prevent bacteria from multiplying, allowing the
immune system to eliminate them.
Q3. Aminoglycosides can cause which serious adverse effect?
A. Hepatotoxicity
B. Ototoxicity
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Thrombocytopenia
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Answer: B
Rationale: Aminoglycosides (e.g., gentamicin) can damage the inner ear, causing
hearing loss or balance issues.
Q4. A patient with a severe allergy to penicillin should avoid which antibiotic?
A. Vancomycin
B. Cephalexin
C. Ciprofloxacin
D. Doxycycline
Answer: B
Rationale: Cephalosporins (like cephalexin) share cross-reactivity with penicillin
and may trigger allergic reactions.
Q5. Which antibiotic is effective against MRSA?
A. Amoxicillin
B. Vancomycin
C. Azithromycin
D. Tetracycline
Answer: B
Rationale: MRSA is resistant to most beta-lactams; vancomycin remains a standard
treatment.
Q6. Which drug class inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 30S
ribosomal subunit?
A. Macrolides
B. Aminoglycosides
C. Fluoroquinolones
D. Beta-lactams
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Answer: B
Rationale: Aminoglycosides bind to the 30S ribosome, disrupting protein
production and killing bacteria.
Q7. Which antibiotic is contraindicated in pregnancy due to effects on fetal bone
and teeth?
A. Penicillin
B. Tetracycline
C. Cephalosporin
D. Vancomycin
Answer: B
Rationale: Tetracyclines can cause permanent discoloration of teeth and affect
bone development in fetuses.
Q8. Fluoroquinolones are primarily used to treat:
A. Viral infections
B. Gram-negative bacterial infections
C. Fungal infections
D. Parasitic infections
Answer: B
Rationale: Fluoroquinolones (e.g., ciprofloxacin) target DNA synthesis in gram-
negative bacteria.
Q9. A patient on long-term broad-spectrum antibiotics develops diarrhea and
abdominal cramping. The nurse suspects:
A. Normal side effect
B. Clostridioides difficile infection
C. Hypersensitivity reaction
D. Viral gastroenteritis
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Answer: B
Rationale: Broad-spectrum antibiotics disrupt normal flora, allowing C. difficile
overgrowth.
Q10. Which laboratory test is most important to monitor in patients receiving
aminoglycosides?
A. Liver function tests
B. Serum creatinine and BUN
C. Hemoglobin A1C
D. Coagulation profile
Answer: B
Rationale: Aminoglycosides are nephrotoxic; renal function must be monitored.
Q11. Macrolides, like azithromycin, work by:
A. Inhibiting cell wall synthesis
B. Inhibiting bacterial DNA replication
C. Inhibiting protein synthesis at the 50S ribosomal subunit
D. Disrupting cell membrane permeability
Answer: C
Rationale: Macrolides bind the 50S ribosome, preventing protein elongation in
bacteria.
Q12. A key nursing consideration when administering vancomycin is:
A. Administer rapidly to reduce nephrotoxicity
B. Monitor for "red man syndrome" during infusion
C. Avoid monitoring renal function
D. Give orally for systemic infections
Answer: B
Rationale: Rapid IV infusion of vancomycin can cause flushing, hypotension, and
rash called red man syndrome.
NURS 5334 ANTIMICROBIAL FINAL EXAM 2025–2026 | 100+
VERIFIED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES,
ALREADY GRADED A+
Q1. Which antibiotic is considered bactericidal?
A. Tetracycline
B. Penicillin
C. Erythromycin
D. Sulfonamide
Answer: B
Rationale: Penicillin kills bacteria by interfering with cell wall synthesis, making it
bactericidal.
Q2. The primary action of bacteriostatic antibiotics is to:
A. Kill bacteria immediately
B. Inhibit bacterial growth and replication
C. Disrupt human cell DNA
D. Enhance bacterial virulence
Answer: B
Rationale: Bacteriostatic drugs prevent bacteria from multiplying, allowing the
immune system to eliminate them.
Q3. Aminoglycosides can cause which serious adverse effect?
A. Hepatotoxicity
B. Ototoxicity
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Thrombocytopenia
,2|Page
Answer: B
Rationale: Aminoglycosides (e.g., gentamicin) can damage the inner ear, causing
hearing loss or balance issues.
Q4. A patient with a severe allergy to penicillin should avoid which antibiotic?
A. Vancomycin
B. Cephalexin
C. Ciprofloxacin
D. Doxycycline
Answer: B
Rationale: Cephalosporins (like cephalexin) share cross-reactivity with penicillin
and may trigger allergic reactions.
Q5. Which antibiotic is effective against MRSA?
A. Amoxicillin
B. Vancomycin
C. Azithromycin
D. Tetracycline
Answer: B
Rationale: MRSA is resistant to most beta-lactams; vancomycin remains a standard
treatment.
Q6. Which drug class inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 30S
ribosomal subunit?
A. Macrolides
B. Aminoglycosides
C. Fluoroquinolones
D. Beta-lactams
,3|Page
Answer: B
Rationale: Aminoglycosides bind to the 30S ribosome, disrupting protein
production and killing bacteria.
Q7. Which antibiotic is contraindicated in pregnancy due to effects on fetal bone
and teeth?
A. Penicillin
B. Tetracycline
C. Cephalosporin
D. Vancomycin
Answer: B
Rationale: Tetracyclines can cause permanent discoloration of teeth and affect
bone development in fetuses.
Q8. Fluoroquinolones are primarily used to treat:
A. Viral infections
B. Gram-negative bacterial infections
C. Fungal infections
D. Parasitic infections
Answer: B
Rationale: Fluoroquinolones (e.g., ciprofloxacin) target DNA synthesis in gram-
negative bacteria.
Q9. A patient on long-term broad-spectrum antibiotics develops diarrhea and
abdominal cramping. The nurse suspects:
A. Normal side effect
B. Clostridioides difficile infection
C. Hypersensitivity reaction
D. Viral gastroenteritis
, 4|Page
Answer: B
Rationale: Broad-spectrum antibiotics disrupt normal flora, allowing C. difficile
overgrowth.
Q10. Which laboratory test is most important to monitor in patients receiving
aminoglycosides?
A. Liver function tests
B. Serum creatinine and BUN
C. Hemoglobin A1C
D. Coagulation profile
Answer: B
Rationale: Aminoglycosides are nephrotoxic; renal function must be monitored.
Q11. Macrolides, like azithromycin, work by:
A. Inhibiting cell wall synthesis
B. Inhibiting bacterial DNA replication
C. Inhibiting protein synthesis at the 50S ribosomal subunit
D. Disrupting cell membrane permeability
Answer: C
Rationale: Macrolides bind the 50S ribosome, preventing protein elongation in
bacteria.
Q12. A key nursing consideration when administering vancomycin is:
A. Administer rapidly to reduce nephrotoxicity
B. Monitor for "red man syndrome" during infusion
C. Avoid monitoring renal function
D. Give orally for systemic infections
Answer: B
Rationale: Rapid IV infusion of vancomycin can cause flushing, hypotension, and
rash called red man syndrome.
