Practice Question
A patient has bacterial endocarditis, and a culture reveals Gram-positive streptococcus. Which antibiotic should the nurse expect to administer because it is a protein-synthesis inhibitor?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
Clindamycin (Cleocin)
Rationale:
🧬 Clindamycin is classified as a protein-synthesis inhibitor because it binds to the 50S ribosomal subunit, preventing bacterial protein formation.
🧬 By inhibiting protein synthesis, clindamycin effectively halts bacterial growth and replication, making it useful for Gram-positive organisms, including streptococci.
🧬 The question specifically asks for an antibiotic whose primary mechanism of action is protein-synthesis inhibition, which directly aligns with clindamycin’s pharmacologic classification.
🧬 Clindamycin is commonly used in serious infections where beta-lactam antibiotics are contraindicated or resistance is present.
🧬 Among the options listed, clindamycin is the only agent that acts on the 50S ribosome, making it the correct and most appropriate answer.
❌ Incorrect Options
❌Amikacin (Amikin)
Amikacin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that acts by binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit, not the 50S subunit.
Although it affects protein synthesis, it is not classified as a 50S inhibitor, making it incorrect for this question.
❌Tobramycin (Nebcin)
Tobramycin is also an aminoglycoside and exerts its effects at the 30S ribosomal level.
The question specifically targets a protein-synthesis inhibitor associated with the 50S subunit, which excludes tobramycin.
❌Gentamicin (Garamycin)
Gentamicin belongs to the aminoglycoside class, which interferes with protein synthesis at the 30S ribosome.
It is therefore incorrect because it does not match the mechanism emphasized in the question.
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This question is from ☑️ Pharmacology Exam-Miami Regional University which contains 84 questions.
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From Exam
☑️ Pharmacology Exam-Miami Regional University
84 Questions
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- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: General Exams
- Domain: 🚑Pharmacology
- Answer Choices: 4