A 3-year-old child diagnosed with severe Haemophilus influenzae infection is started on ampicillin. However, symptoms worsen after 48 hours, and laboratory tests reveal that the bacterial strain is beta-lactamase-producing, making it resistant to ampicillin. Which of the following is the most appropriate alternative treatment?

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A 3-year-old child diagnosed with severe Haemophilus influenzae infection is started on ampicillin. However, symptoms worsen after 48 hours, and laboratory tests reveal that the bacterial strain is beta-lactamase-producing, making it resistant to ampicillin. Which of the following is the most appropriate alternative treatment? Answer: Ceftriaxone or cefotaxime

A beta-lactamase–producing Haemophilus influenzae strain can inactivate ampicillin, making it ineffective. For a child with a severe H. influenzae infection, ceftriaxone, a third-generation cephalosporin, is an appropriate alternative because it is stable against many beta-lactamases and provides effective treatment for invasive H. influenzae infections.

Question context

This question is part of 🔬 General Science within the broader 🌐 Current Affairs & GK subject and appears in the SPSC – Sindh Public Service Commission preparation collection. Reviewing the answer together with nearby questions helps reinforce the underlying concept and identify how it may appear in competitive exams.