Antibiotics Chapter 9

The nurse provides discharge teaching for a patient who will receive a prescription for cefaclor (Ceclor). What important information will the nurse provide this patient?

Avoid alcohol until 72 hours after stopping this medication.

A nursing student asks the pharmacology instructor for ways to minimize the emergence of drugresistant microbial agents. What would be an appropriate response by the instructor? (Select all that apply.)

Avoid the use of broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs when treating trivial or viral infections. Use narrow-spectrum agents if they are thought to be effective. Do not use vancomycin unnecessarily.

The nurse is teaching the patient about amoxicillin prior to discharge and includes what important teaching point?

Blackening of the tongue may occur but will subside when the drug is discontinued.

What severe reaction would the nurse assess for if it were necessary to administer trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) to an older adult?

Bone marrow depression

The nurse is caring for a patient with a gram-positive infection. What antibiotic would be most effective in treating this infection?

Cefaclor (Ceclor)

A local bioterrorism medical team is learning about germ warfare. The team is instructed that a fluoroquinolone may be used to prevent an outbreak of anthrax infection. What fluoroquinolone would the nurse be most likely to administer for this purpose?

Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)

A 32-year-old female patient is admitted to the floor with a superinfection. Her orders read tigecycline (Tygacil) 100 mg IV followed by 50 mg IV every 12 hours infused over 30 to 60 minutes for 5 days. What would be important for the nurse to educate this patient about?

Contraceptives

he nurse is preparing to contact the physician for an antibiotic order for the patient's infection. What information will the nurse be prepared to provide for the physician to choose the proper antibiotic?

Culture and sensitivity test results

A 28-year-old patient has been prescribed penicillin for the first time. What nursing diagnosis would be most appropriate for this patient?

Deficient knowledge regarding drug therapy

The nurse is caring for a patient receiving an antimycobacterial who reports dizziness, headache, and drowsiness. What is the priority nursing diagnosis?

Disturbed sensory perception (kinesthetic) related to central nervous system (CNS) effects of the drug

When the nurse cares for a patient receiving an antibiotic, what instructions will the nurse provide no matter what medication is prescribed? (Select all that apply.)

Drink plenty of fluids to avoid kidney damage. Take all medications as prescribed until all of the medication is gone Report difficulty breathing, severe headache, or changes in urine output.

The nurse is providing patient teaching before discharging a patient home. The patient is taking ciprofloxacin (Cipro). What would the nurse teach this patient is the best way to prevent crystalluria caused by ciprofloxacin (Cipro)?

Encourage at least 2 liters of fluid per day

The nurse is admitting a 12-year-old girl to the acute care facility and notices discolored secondary teeth. The mother says she doesn't know why the teeth are discolored because the child is very good about brushing and flossing and sees the dentist regularly. What question would the nurse ask?

Has she ever received tetracyclin?

The nurse is caring for a 62-year-old patient who is receiving IV gentamicin (Garamycin). The patient complains of difficulty hearing. What should the nurse do?

Hold the dose and notify the physician immediately

The nurse is caring for a female patient whose tests confirm she is 10 weeks pregnant and has contracted tuberculosis. The health care provider orders a combination of antimycobacterials. What combination of drugs would the nurse identify as safest for this pregnant patient?

Isoniazid, ethambutol, and rifampin

The mother of a 5-year-old asks the nurse why it seems amoxicillin is always prescribed when her child needs an antibiotic. What is the priority rationale the nurse should give the mother?

It is better absorbed

A 78-year-old woman, who lives alone and is forgetful, is being seen by her home health nurse. In reviewing the patient's medication, the nurse discovers that the patient is taking Azithromycin (Zithromax) for urethritis. Why would this be a good choice of antibiotics for this patient?

It is taken only once a day.

When discussing cephalosporins with the nursing class, the pharmacology instructor explains that this classification of drug is primarily excreted through which organ?

Kidney

What medication would the nurse question if ordered for a pediatric patient?

Levofloxacin

An intensive care unit nurse is caring for a patient taking kanamycin. What is the nurse's priority action?

Monitoring renal function daily

The pharmacology instructor is discussing antimicrobials with the nursing class. What would the instructor tell the students about the mechanism of action of antimicrobials? (Select all that apply).

Preventing cell division Causing cell death Inhibiting cell wall synthesis

What drug administered by the nurse belongs to the group of Carbapenems?

Primaxin

A 12-year-old patient with a complicated skin infection has been admitted to the pediatric unit. The physician has ordered Ertapenem (Invanz). What is the nursing priority?

Question the order by calling the physician who prescribed it.

The nurse is caring for a child weighing 30 kg. The physician orders gentamicin (Garamycin) 100 mg tid for the patient. The recommended dosage range is 6 to 7.5 mg/kg/day. What action should the nurse take?

Question the physician about the dosage of the medication.

After administering an antibiotic, the nurse assesses the patient for what common, potentially serious, adverse effect?

Rash

A patient with a gram-negative infection is being treated with an aminoglycoside. What system should the nurse expect to monitor closely while the patient is taking this medication?

Renal system

The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving an aminoglycoside. What would be a priority assessment on this patient?

Respiratory function

How would the nurse describe selective toxicity?

Selective toxicity is the ability of the drug to kill foreign cells without causing harm to one's own body cells.

The clinic nurse is providing health teaching to a patient who has been prescribed doxycycline (Doxycin). What is a priority teaching point for this patient?

Stay out of the sun.

The nurse is providing discharge teaching to a patient who is being sent home on oral tetracycline (Sumycin). What instructions should the nurse include?

Take the drug on an empty stomach

The patient is admitted to the acute care facility with acute septicemia and has orders to receive gentamicin and ampicillin IV. The nurse is performing an admission assessment that includes a complete nursing history. What information provided by the patient would indicate the need to consult the health care provider before administering the ordered medication?

Takes furosemide (Lasix), a potent diuretic, daily

What is the priority reason for the nurse to consider questioning an order for tetracycline in a child younger than 8 years of age?

Tetracyclines can damage developing teeth and bone in children younger than 8 years of age.

A student asks the pharmacology instructor if there is a way to increase the benefits and decrease the risks of antibiotic therapy. What would be an appropriate response by the instructor?

Use antibiotics cautiously and teach patients to complete the full course of an antibiotic prescription.

A 22-year-old female is diagnosed with mycobacterial tuberculosis. The physician orders rifampin (Rifadin) 600 mg PO daily. What should the nurse question the patient about?

Use of contact lenses