Microbiology · Antimicrobial Resistance Mechanisms and Susceptibility Testing (ESBL, MRSA, VRE, CRE, MIC/MBC, E-test)

The tripartite efflux system chiefly responsible for intrinsic multidrug resistance to tetracyclines, chloramphenicol and fluoroquinolones in Escherichia coli is:

  • A MexAB-OprM
  • B AcrAB-TolC
  • C AdeABC
  • D NorA
Correct answer: B. AcrAB-TolC

Explanation

AcrAB-TolC is the constitutively expressed resistance-nodulation-division (RND) pump of Enterobacteriaceae: AcrB is the inner-membrane transporter, AcrA the periplasmic adapter and TolC the outer-membrane channel. It exports a broad range of agents and is upregulated through global regulators such as MarA, SoxS and Rob. MexAB-OprM performs the equivalent role in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, AdeABC in Acinetobacter baumannii and NorA is a single-component major facilitator pump handling fluoroquinolones in Staphylococcus aureus, so each distractor belongs to a different organism.

Reference: Ananthanarayan and Paniker's Textbook of Microbiology, 11th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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