Which of the following complaints by a man taking gentamycin would be most indicative that he is experiencing ototoxicity?

A. Refers to an infection that is resistant to conventional antibiotics:

This statement is partially correct. Acquired resistance does indeed refer to bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics, but it is not specific to conventional antibiotics. Bacteria can develop resistance to various types of antibiotics, including conventional antibiotics and newer antimicrobial agents.

B. Superinfection that has significant antifungal resistance:

This statement is incorrect. Acquired resistance specifically pertains to bacteria and their ability to resist antibiotics. It does not involve antifungal resistance or superinfections.

C. Refers to a term used for antibiotic coverage:

This statement is incorrect. Acquired resistance is not a term used to describe antibiotic coverage. It describes the phenomenon of bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics.

D. There is no such phenomenon of acquired resistance:

This statement is incorrect. Acquired resistance is a well-documented phenomenon in microbiology and is a significant challenge in the treatment of bacterial infections. Ignoring or denying the existence of acquired resistance would overlook a critical aspect of antibiotic stewardship and management of bacterial infections.

1. Abdominal surgery requires starting antibiotic therapy 4 days before surgery:

This statement is not accurate. While antibiotic prophylaxis is commonly administered before certain types of surgery to prevent surgical site infections, the timing and duration of antibiotic therapy vary depending on factors such as the type of surgery, the patient’s medical history, and institutional guidelines. However, starting antibiotic therapy four days before surgery would not be standard practice for most abdominal surgeries.

B. A reduction of intestinal bacteria lessens the possibility of postoperative infection:

This statement is correct. Neomycin, as well as other antibiotics used in bowel preparation regimens, help reduce the population of intestinal bacteria. By decreasing the bacterial load in the bowel before surgery, the risk of contaminating the surgical site with harmful bacteria during the procedure is reduced, thus lowering the likelihood of postoperative infections.

C. The bacteria found in the bowel cannot be destroyed after surgery:

This statement is incorrect. While it is true that the bowel contains a complex ecosystem of bacteria that play important roles in digestion and other physiological functions, the population of intestinal bacteria can be temporarily reduced through the use of antibiotics, such as neomycin, as part of a bowel preparation regimen before surgery.

D. Anesthesia makes the bowel resistant to an antibiotic after surgery:

This statement is not accurate. Anesthesia does not render the bowel resistant to antibiotics after surgery. However, the administration of antibiotics during surgery and postoperatively may be indicated in certain cases to prevent or treat infections, particularly if the surgical procedure involves contamination of the abdominal cavity or if the patient is at increased risk of infection.