Haematology: practice question

A General Medicine 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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General Medicine · Haematology

Sample item

What is the key immediate action for suspected neutropenic sepsis in a patient receiving chemotherapy?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Give prompt broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics

Neutropenic sepsis can deteriorate rapidly with few localizing signs, so blood cultures should be obtained where feasible but broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics must be started promptly without waiting for results.

Option by option

  • A. Administer live vaccines

    Live vaccines are not an emergency treatment and may be unsafe in immunosuppression.

  • B. Send the patient home with reassurance

    Home reassurance is unsafe when sepsis is possible in neutropenia.

  • C. Give prompt broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics (correct)

    Correct: early empiric intravenous antibiotics are lifesaving.

  • D. Wait for cultures before treating

    Delaying antibiotics for culture results increases dangerous treatment delay.

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.

More General Medicine questions

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is C, Give prompt broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics. Neutropenic sepsis can deteriorate rapidly with few localizing signs, so blood cultures should be obtained where feasible but broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics must be started promptly without waiting for results.

Why is "Administer live vaccines" not the answer?

Live vaccines are not an emergency treatment and may be unsafe in immunosuppression.

Why is "Send the patient home with reassurance" not the answer?

Home reassurance is unsafe when sepsis is possible in neutropenia.

Why is "Wait for cultures before treating" not the answer?

Delaying antibiotics for culture results increases dangerous treatment delay.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Haematology in General Medicine. The correct option holds because: Correct: early empiric intravenous antibiotics are lifesaving.

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 Haematology?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine 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.