RNPedia PNLE Overall Test 2 Practice

Treating dysentery first line means using an antibiotic that reliably targets the bacteria most often causing the illness (Shigella) and is easy to give and access. Cotrimoxazole fits this well: it has good activity against Shigella, is readily absorbed when taken by mouth, and is inexpensive and widely available. Its action—inhibiting sequential steps in folate synthesis—gives strong antibacterial effects against enteric pathogens, helping to shorten illness and curb transmission. The other options—amoxicillin, tetracycline, and cephalexin—tend to be less reliable against Shigella due to resistance or narrower effectiveness, so they aren’t preferred as first-line in this context. Keep in mind that resistance patterns can vary by time and place, but cotrimoxazole has historically been a common first-line choice for dysentery.