A 7 day course of antibiotics, either penicillin or

Question

A 7 day course of antibiotics, either penicillin or erythromycin has been the traditional treatment of streptococcal infections. However, since many patients stop taking those drugs within three days, reinfection is common. Azithromycin, a new antibiotic requires only a three-day course of treatment. Therefore, reinfection will probably be less common in cases where Azithromycin is prescribed than in cases where either penicillin or erythromycin is prescribed.
Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?

A. Azithromycin has been shown to be effective in eradicating bacterial infections other than strep.
B. Some physicians have already begun to prescribe Azithromycin instead of penicillin or erythromycin for the treatment of some strep infections
C. Some of people who are allergic to penicillin are likely to be allergic to Azithromycin.
D. A course of treatment with Azithromycin costs about the same as a course of treatment with either penicillin or erythromycin.
E. Regardless of whether they take a traditional antibiotic or the new one, most patients feel fully recovered after taking the drug for three days

bmlaud · Answer

IMO E

ankitranjan · Answer

My take is E.

Financier · Answer

Tough one. My take is  E .

SJD · Answer

E seems right. 3 day usage by patients + 3 day time period needed for effective use of new medication

arundas · Answer

My take is E. You need somehow provide a reason as to why would patients take medicines for atleast 3 days and option E only gives the answer.

suyashjhawar · Answer

Absolutely E.

rudransh · Answer

my take is B

devashish · Answer

For the above Argument:
Conclusion: Reinfections will be less common on prescribing Azithromycin rathen than Penicillin or Erythromycin.

In Strengthen / Weaken questions, AC should provide new information and the information should be related to conclusion.
I think E is not the correct answer because, E is not related to conclusion as all it says is that People FEEL fully recovered ( not that they ARE recovered or that they will not suffer reinfections )

Option D is Correct according to me.
As in Option D, People will take the whole course of medications ( Implying there will be lesser reinfections ) and since the cost of both treatments is same so people should not have issues with changing the treatments altogether.

suyashjhawar · Answer

E strengthens the argument and is the correct answer. Since people 'feel' that they are recovered fully, the chances of stopping further treatment with traditional options is great. On the other hand, the complete course of therapy with Azithromycin is completed within 3 days and satisfies patients 'time' too

shekharvineet · Answer

My take is E on this one. E seems the best answer by POE.
A. Azithromycin has been shown to be effective in eradicating bacterial infections  other than strep. . This would have been the best answer if for the last part. The stimulus talks about Azithromycin being more effective than pencillin and erythromycin in treating infections. This statement actually weakens the conclusion by leaving out strep. infections.
B. This statement has no effect on the conclusion. Physicians could prescribe Azithromycin for various other reasons than it being an effective drug.
C. Irrelevant.
D. Cost plays no factor in the effectiveness of either of the drugs.
E. Best Answer- because it highlights the premise on which the conclusion is based, that is, the relatively shorter duration of the treatment.

razorback · Answer

+1 for D. Since Azithromycin is not costlier than traditional ones, ppl are going to take the course of treatment with Azithromycin.

zuperman · Answer

E. The crux of the argument is no. of days and only E seems to tackle it.

metallicafan · Answer

+1 E

fronds · Answer

I went with E.

Reason: People stop taking medication when they feel fine.

A 7 day course of antibiotics, either penicillin or

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