The traditional treatment of strep infections has been a seven-day course of antibiotics, either penicillin or

[B BTGmoderatorDC]

The traditional treatment of strep infections has been a seven-day course of antibiotics, either penicillin or erythromycin. However, since many patients stop taking those drugs within three days, reinfection is common in cases where those drugs are prescribed. A new antibiotic requires only a three-day course of treatment. Therefore, reinfection will probably be less common in cases where the new antibiotic is prescribed than in cases where either penicillin or erythromycin is prescribed.

Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?

A. Some of the people who are allergic to penicillin are likely to be allergic to the new antibiotic.

B. A course of treatment with the new antibiotic costs about the same as a course of treatment with either penicillin or erythromycin.

C. The new antibiotic has been shown to be effective in eradicating bacterial infections other than strep.

D. Some physicians have already begun to prescribe the new antibiotic instead of penicillin or erythromycin for the treatment of some strep infections.

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.


OA E

Source: GMAT Prep

[A Asimo3089]

The traditional treatment of strep infections has been a seven-day course of antibiotics, either penicillin or erythromycin. However, since many patients stop taking those drugs within three days, reinfection is common in cases where those drugs are prescribed. A new antibiotic requires only a three-day course of treatment. Therefore, reinfection will probably be less common in cases where the new antibiotic is prescribed than in cases where either penicillin or erythromycin is prescribed.

Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?

A. Some of the people who are allergic to penicillin are likely to be allergic to the new antibiotic.

B. A course of treatment with the new antibiotic costs about the same as a course of treatment with either penicillin or erythromycin.

C. The new antibiotic has been shown to be effective in eradicating bacterial infections other than strep.

D. Some physicians have already begun to prescribe the new antibiotic instead of penicillin or erythromycin for the treatment of some strep infections.

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.


OA E

Source: GMAT Prep

Strep infection treatment normally lasts seven days, but many patients stop at three days, causing frequent reinfection. New antibiotic needs only three days. Best strengthening statement: Regardless of antibiotic, most patients feel fully recovered after three days.

E

[M mapadvantageprep]

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.

This statement suggests that both the traditional antibiotics and the new antibiotic have similar efficacy in terms of making patients feel fully recovered after three days of treatment. Therefore, it implies that the new antibiotic, which requires only a three-day course of treatment, is as effective as the traditional antibiotics in terms of patient recovery.

This information strengthens the argument by suggesting that the shorter treatment duration with the new antibiotic does not compromise its effectiveness in making patients feel fully recovered. As a result, patients may be more likely to complete the full course of treatment with the new antibiotic, reducing the likelihood of reinfection compared to the traditional antibiotics.

E indeed provides support for the argument's conclusion that reinfection will probably be less common with the new antibiotic compared to penicillin or erythromycin.