ependent-effects-of-each-drug-which-term-best-describes-this-interaction-and-why

Question

A patient receives Drug X and Drug Y. In vitro testing shows the combination kills 10-fold more bacteria than predicted from independent effects of each drug. Which term best describes this interaction and why?

Accepted Answer

Synergism, because the observed combined killing exceeds the expected additive effect of the two drugs.

Answer

Antagonism, because the combination produced a measurable effect that differs from the effect of each drug alone, indicating interference.

Answer

Indifference, because the combined effect must be exactly additive to be called synergy and any multiplicative increase is considered statistically insignificant.

Answer

Tolerance, because bacteria can rapidly adapt to two drugs and show increased rate of killing only transiently before resistance emerges, which is the hallmark of antagonism rather than synergy.