Efflux pumps send antibiotics, such as the protein synthesis-inhibitor tetracycline, out of the bacterial cells, enabling them to grow in the presence of antibiotics. Which of the following therapeutic approaches will be LEAST effective?
A) Switch to an antibiotic that is not a substrate of the efflux pump.
B) Augment the treatment with an efflux inhibitor.
C) Increase the concentration of tetracycline.
D) Augment the treatment with an ATP synthase inhibitor.
E) Add a second antibiotic to the therapy.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Increasing the concentration of tetracycline is likely to be the least effective therapeutic approach against efflux pumps, as these pumps can quickly extrude the antibiotic from the cells even at high concentrations. Switching to an antibiotic that is not a substrate of the efflux pump (A), augmenting the treatment with an efflux inhibitor (B), adding an ATP synthase inhibitor (D), or combining two antibiotics (E) might be more effective options to overcome the bacterial resistance mediated by efflux pumps.

Efflux Pumps Send Antibiotics, Such as the Protein Synthesis-Inhibitor Tetracycline