Ace the CIC Challenge 2025 – Master Infection Prevention and Rock Your Career!

Broad-spectrum antibiotics are designed to target a wide range of bacteria, which is beneficial in treating infections caused by polymicrobial pathogens or when the specific causative organism is unknown. However, one significant complication that can arise from their use is superinfection.

Superinfection occurs when the normal flora of the body, which normally inhibits the growth of pathogenic organisms, is disrupted. Broad-spectrum antibiotics can eliminate not only the harmful bacteria causing the infection but also the beneficial microbes that maintain a healthy balance. This disruption can allow for the overgrowth of opportunistic pathogens, leading to a secondary infection that may be more challenging to treat.

In the context of the other options, while resistance is certainly a concern associated with the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics—where bacteria adapt and become resistant to treatment—superinfection specifically emphasizes the immediate consequence of altering normal microbiota. Tolerance typically refers to a reduced response to a medication over time, not a direct complication of antibiotic use, and dehydration is not directly related to antibiotic treatment but may result from various other factors. Thus, superinfection most accurately highlights a specific and relevant complication resulting from the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics.