Azithromycin primarily exerts its antibacterial effect by inhibiting:

A Protein synthesis at the 50S ribosomal subunit

B Cell wall synthesis

C DNA gyrase activity

D Folic acid metabolism

Solution

Correct Answer: Option A

- Azithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic that binds irreversibly to the 50S subunit of bacterial ribosomes, inhibiting the translocation steps of protein synthesis.
- This action prevents bacterial growth by blocking peptide chain elongation.
- It does not affect cell wall synthesis, DNA gyrase, or folic acid metabolism, which are targets of other antibiotic classes.
- Hence, its primary antibacterial effect is through inhibition of protein synthesis at the 50S ribosomal subunit.

Reference: Goodman & Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 13th Edition, Chapter 35

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