Question 15.1

For each of the microbes listed below, list the most appropriate antibiotic(s) for treatment of infection resulting from these organisms:

  1. Candida glabrata
  2. Clostridum perfringens
  3. Listeria monocytogenes
  4. Neisseria meningitides
  5. Multi-resistant Acinetobacter
  6. Nocardia
  7. Penicillin-intermediate pneumococcus
  8. Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus

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College Answer

Organism

Agent

Candida glabrata

Voriconazole or caspafungin or Amphotericin B

Clostridium perfringens

Peniciliin or Meropenem or Metronidazole

Listeria monocytogenes

Penicillin or Ampicillin

Neisseria meningitides

Ceftriaxone or Penicillin (high dose)

Multi-resistant Acinetobacter

Amikacin. Polymixins

Nocardia

Sulphonamides

Penicillin-intermediate pneumococcus

Ceftriaxone or Vancomycin

Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus

Linezolid or Daptomycin

Discussion

Elsewhere, there is a large list of important microorganisms.

More specifically, there is also a tabulated short-list of important pathogens and their antibiotic remedies.

The table from the college answer is difficult to expand upon. It seems important, but one cannot list every possible microorganism in a table with the drugs routinely used to treat them. That is what the Sanford Guide is for; this is why we have a vast array of electronic databases to guide our antimicrobial decisionmaking. In view of the rapid availability of accurate reference information, one wonders about the value of a question which tests the candidate's ability to recall lists of microbes and their antibiotic susceptibilities.

References

For the antibiotic choices, I have used the Sanford Guide.

Local practice may vary (wildly).