Which of the following complaints by a man taking gentamycin would be most indicative that he is experiencing ototoxicity?

A. Permanent, inheritable changes to DNA:

Mutations are alterations or changes in the DNA sequence of an organism's genome. These changes can be permanent and heritable, meaning they are passed on to offspring during reproduction. Mutations can occur spontaneously or be induced by various factors such as environmental agents, radiation, or errors in DNA replication or repair mechanisms. These changes can lead to variations in traits among individuals within a population and are essential for the process of evolution.

B. An organism that is capable of causing disease:

This definition refers to the term "pathogen." Pathogens are organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, that are capable of causing disease in their hosts. Pathogens can infect humans, animals, plants, or other organisms and can lead to a wide range of diseases, from mild infections to life-threatening illnesses.

C. The severity of a disease that an organism is able to cause:

This definition refers to the term "virulence." Virulence is a measure of the severity or harmfulness of a pathogen, indicating its ability to cause disease in a host organism. Highly virulent pathogens are more likely to cause severe illness or death, while less virulent pathogens may cause milder symptoms or asymptomatic infections. Virulence factors, such as toxins, adhesion molecules, or evasion mechanisms, contribute to the pathogen's ability to cause disease.

D. A substance that can inhibit the growth of bacteria:

This definition refers to the term "antibiotic." Antibiotics are chemical substances produced by microorganisms, fungi, or synthesized in the laboratory that can inhibit the growth of or kill bacteria. Antibiotics are commonly used to treat bacterial infections and work by targeting specific bacterial structures or metabolic processes, thereby disrupting bacterial growth and survival. However, antibiotics are not mutations; instead, they are therapeutic agents used to combat bacterial infections.

A. Bacteriostatics are narrow spectrum drugs, and bactericidal drugs are broad spectrum:

This statement is incorrect. The spectrum of activity (narrow vs. broad) of an antibiotic refers to the range of bacterial species that it can target, not whether it is bacteriostatic or bactericidal.

B. Bacteriostatic drugs inhibit bacterial growth, and bactericidal drugs actually kill bacteria:

This statement is correct. Bacteriostatic drugs work by inhibiting the growth and reproduction of bacteria without directly killing them, whereas bactericidal drugs directly kill bacteria.

C. Bacteriostatics work by inhibiting protein synthesis, and bactericidal drugs work by inhibiting nucleic acid synthesis:

This statement is incorrect. Both bacteriostatic and bactericidal drugs can target various bacterial cellular processes, including protein synthesis, nucleic acid synthesis, cell wall synthesis, and others. The mechanism of action is not a definitive factor in distinguishing between bacteriostatic and bactericidal drugs.

D. Bacteriostatic drugs actually kill bacteria, and bactericidal drugs inhibit bacterial growth:

This statement is incorrect. It contradicts the established definitions of bacteriostatic and bactericidal drugs. Bacteriostatic drugs inhibit bacterial growth without killing the bacteria, while bactericidal drugs directly kill bacteria.