South Dakota Medication Aide Practice Test

Antihistamines are not a class of antibiotics. They primarily serve the purpose of blocking histamine receptors to alleviate allergic reactions, symptoms of colds, and nasal congestion. Instead of targeting bacterial infections, antihistamines work on different physiological pathways related to histamine response in the body.

In contrast, the other options provided are indeed classes of antibiotics. Macrolides are known for their effectiveness against a variety of bacteria and are commonly used to treat respiratory infections, skin infections, and some sexually transmitted infections. Tetracyclines are broad-spectrum antibiotics that can treat a wide range of infections, including acne and pneumonia, by inhibiting protein synthesis in bacteria. Fluoroquinolones are a class of antibiotics that work by inhibiting bacterial DNA synthesis, which makes them effective against various infections, particularly those caused by Gram-negative bacteria.