Antibiotics are one of the most heavily tested pharmacology topics on USMLE Step 1 — and also one of the easiest to confuse. This guide breaks antibiotics down into clear mechanisms, high-yield tables, exam traps, and organism matchups so you can stop memorizing blindly and start answering questions with confidence.
This guide is designed for medical students who want clarity, not clutter.
✔️ Mechanisms of action & resistance for all major antibiotic classes
✔️ High-yield organism → antibiotic matching (MRSA, VRE, Pseudomonas, C. diff, atypicals)
✔️ Common adverse effects & board-relevant clinical pearls
✔️ Clear diagrams for β-lactams, ribosomes, and resistance mechanisms
✔️ Exam traps NBME loves to test
✔️ High-yield mnemonics you’ll actually remember
✔️ 10 NBME-style practice questions with full explanations
Antibiotics are one of the most heavily tested pharmacology topics on USMLE Step 1 — and also one of the easiest to confuse. This guide breaks antibiotics down into clear mechanisms, high-yield tables, exam traps, and organism matchups so you can stop memorizing blindly and start answering questions with confidence.
This guide is designed for medical students who want clarity, not clutter.
✔️ Mechanisms of action & resistance for all major antibiotic classes
✔️ High-yield organism → antibiotic matching (MRSA, VRE, Pseudomonas, C. diff, atypicals)
✔️ Common adverse effects & board-relevant clinical pearls
✔️ Clear diagrams for β-lactams, ribosomes, and resistance mechanisms
✔️ Exam traps NBME loves to test
✔️ High-yield mnemonics you’ll actually remember
✔️ 10 NBME-style practice questions with full explanations