Question

Which of the following Urinary Tract Anti-Infective agents an acidic pH of urine for optimum action?

• A. Gentamicin
• B. Erytharomycin
• C. Carbenicillin
• D. Streptomycin

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

To determine which urinary tract anti-infective agent requires an acidic pH of urine for optimum action, let us examine the options and the nature of these drugs:

1. Gentamicin: It is an aminoglycoside antibiotic primarily used to treat serious bacterial infections. Its mechanism of action does not depend on urine pH, as it works by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis. Hence, it does not require an acidic pH to be effective.
2. Erythromycin: Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic suitable for treating various infections. It acts by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis through binding to the 50S subunit of the bacterial ribosome and does not specifically require an acidic environment to function in the urinary tract.
3. Carbenicillin: This is a penicillin-type antibiotic with activity against gram-negative bacteria, including those causing urinary tract infections. It is known that an acidic pH enhances its action, making it more effective in fighting urinary tract infections by maintaining an acidic urine environment.
4. Streptomycin: Another aminoglycoside antibiotic is similar to gentamicin, which works on protein synthesis inhibition and is effective irrespective of urine pH.

Based on the properties of these drugs, Carbenicillin requires an acidic pH of the urine to be most effective as a urinary tract anti-infective agent. This is because the acidity helps maintain the necessary enzyme activity required for the drug’s optimal action.

Thus, the correct answer is Carbenicillin.