Multiple Choice
Do you think a doctor would be more likely to prescribe narrow-spectrum or broad-spectrum drugs if they did not know the source of an infection? Why?
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28. Antimicrobial Drugs
Broad vs Narrow Spectrum Drugs
Multiple Choice
In microbiology, what does it mean when an antibiotic is described as broad-spectrum?
A
It is effective against a wide range of bacteria, typically including many Gram-positive and Gram-negative species.
B
It kills bacteria only by inhibiting cell membrane synthesis and cannot target other cellular processes.
C
It works only against viruses and has no activity against bacteria.
D
It is effective only against a single bacterial species or a very limited group of closely related bacteria.
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the term 'broad-spectrum' in the context of antibiotics. It refers to the range of bacterial types an antibiotic can act against.
Step 2: Recall that bacteria are broadly classified into Gram-positive and Gram-negative groups based on their cell wall structure, which affects antibiotic susceptibility.
Step 3: Recognize that a broad-spectrum antibiotic is effective against a wide variety of bacteria, including both Gram-positive and Gram-negative species, rather than targeting a narrow group.
Step 4: Contrast this with narrow-spectrum antibiotics, which are effective against only a specific type or limited group of bacteria.
Step 5: Note that broad-spectrum antibiotics do not specifically target viruses, nor are they limited to killing bacteria by only one mechanism such as inhibiting cell membrane synthesis.
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