Antimicrobials: aztreonam: 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.

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Pharmacology · Antimicrobials: aztreonam

Sample item

A patient with severe penicillin anaphylaxis has a serious gram-negative urinary sepsis. Which beta-lactam can be used with little cross-reactivity and has no gram-positive activity?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Aztreonam

Aztreonam is a monobactam active only against aerobic gram-negative bacilli including Pseudomonas, and it does not cross-react with penicillins, except with ceftazidime, which shares a side chain. It is safe in penicillin allergy.

Option by option

  • A. Meropenem

    Meropenem is broad spectrum and a carbapenem.

  • B. Cefazolin

    Cefazolin has gram-positive activity and may cross-react.

  • C. Ampicillin

    Ampicillin is a penicillin.

  • D. Aztreonam (correct)

    Correct. Aztreonam is a gram-negative-only monobactam.

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.

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Questions about this Pharmacology question

What is the answer to this Pharmacology question?

The best answer is D, Aztreonam. Aztreonam is a monobactam active only against aerobic gram-negative bacilli including Pseudomonas, and it does not cross-react with penicillins, except with ceftazidime, which shares a side chain.

Why is "Meropenem" not the answer?

Meropenem is broad spectrum and a carbapenem.

Why is "Cefazolin" not the answer?

Cefazolin has gram-positive activity and may cross-react.

Why is "Ampicillin" not the answer?

Ampicillin is a penicillin.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Antimicrobials: aztreonam in Pharmacology. It is safe in penicillin allergy.

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: aztreonam?

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.