Explain How Using a Combination of Two Antimicrobial Drugs Helps

question 32

Multiple Choice

Explain how using a combination of two antimicrobial drugs helps prevent the development of spontaneously resistant mutants.

• A) All drugs work synergistically with each other-that is, their combined effects are far greater than either could achieve individually. Two drugs together helps to eliminate microbes, even if they have developed spontaneous mutations that would confer upon them resistance to the drugs.
• B) It is highly unlikely that the microbe might spontaneously develop 2 specific mutations to resist the effects of a pair of drugs. As such, even if one drug is resisted by the microbe, the 2nd drug will eliminate the mutated microbe, thus preventing the development of spontaneously resistant mutants overall.
• C) All drugs work antagonistically with each other-that is, their combined effects are far greater than either could achieve individually. Two drugs together helps to eliminate microbes, even if they have developed spontaneous mutations that would confer upon them resistance to the drugs.
• D) Drugs can also select for mutations that will enhance the activity of another drug. So, each of the paired drugs will help to select for spontaneous mutations that enhance the activity of the other drug in the pair.

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Definitions:

Exponential Density Function

A probability density function used to model the time between events in a process where events occur continuously and independently at a constant average rate.

Density Function

A mathematical function that describes the probability distribution of a continuous random variable, indicating the likelihood of a variable taking on a particular value.

Exponential Distribution

A probability distribution used to model the time between events in a process where events occur continuously and independently at a constant rate.

Parameter

A measurable feature or characteristic that helps to define or classify a system, often a constant in mathematical models and statistical analyses.