Which of the following is a general mechanism by which antimicrobial drugs act?

• A. Inhibition of cell wall synthesis
• B. Promotion of bacterial motility
• C. Enhancement of host DNA replication
• D. Stimulation of viral protein synthesis

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the general mechanisms by which antimicrobial drugs work. Antimicrobial drugs target specific structures or processes essential for microbial survival or replication.
2. Step 2: Review common targets of antimicrobial drugs, such as inhibition of cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis, nucleic acid synthesis, and metabolic pathways unique to microbes.
3. Step 3: Analyze each option: 'Inhibition of cell wall synthesis' targets bacterial cell walls, which are absent in human cells, making it a common and effective antimicrobial mechanism.
4. Step 4: Consider why the other options are incorrect: 'Promotion of bacterial motility' would aid bacteria rather than inhibit them; 'Enhancement of host DNA replication' and 'Stimulation of viral protein synthesis' would not inhibit microbes but rather support host or viral functions.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the general mechanism by which antimicrobial drugs act is the inhibition of cell wall synthesis, as it specifically disrupts bacterial survival without harming host cells.