Penicillins, tetracycline, and sulfonamides are examples of what category?

Penicillins, tetracycline, and sulfonamides are examples of what category?

• A. Analgesics
• B. Antimicrobials
• C. Antineoplastics
• D. Antacids

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is that these drugs are antimicrobials—agents that fight microorganisms and infections. Penicillins, tetracycline, and sulfonamides are classic antibiotics, each working against bacteria in different ways: penicillins disrupt cell wall synthesis, leading to bacterial death; tetracycline blocks protein production by binding the bacterial ribosome; sulfonamides interfere with folate synthesis, which bacteria need to grow. Because their primary purpose is to treat infections by microbes, they belong in the antimicrobial category. The other options relate to different therapeutic goals—pain relief (analgesics), cancer treatment (antineoplastics), or stomach acid neutralization (antacids)—and don’t describe this class of infection-fighting drugs.

The key idea here is that these drugs are antimicrobials—agents that fight microorganisms and infections. Penicillins, tetracycline, and sulfonamides are classic antibiotics, each working against bacteria in different ways: penicillins disrupt cell wall synthesis, leading to bacterial death; tetracycline blocks protein production by binding the bacterial ribosome; sulfonamides interfere with folate synthesis, which bacteria need to grow. Because their primary purpose is to treat infections by microbes, they belong in the antimicrobial category. The other options relate to different therapeutic goals—pain relief (analgesics), cancer treatment (antineoplastics), or stomach acid neutralization (antacids)—and don’t describe this class of infection-fighting drugs.