Nursing Knowledge
The "Big Three" of antibiotic therapy?
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
A common complication with IV antibiotic therapy that causes redness, warmth, edema and pain at site.
Phlebitis
The class of drugs that are related to Penicillins
Cephalsporins
Drug class use mostly for UTI's
Sulfonamides co-trimoxazole (Bactrim)
Tingling and numbness of the extremities and reddish to orange secretions noted with this drug class
Antitubercular agents
An infection that happens when a primary infection is being treated?
Secondary
When do you receive the final culture and sensitivity results?
48 hours
Name of two drugs used to treat Tuberculosis
isoniazis (INH)
rifampin (Rifadin)
Treats middle ear infections, pneumonia, meningitis, urinary tract infections, syphilis, gonorrhea-given A LOT
pipercillin (Zosyn)
Topical antifungal treats what kind of infections?
Treat tinea pedis, tinea cruris, tinea corporis, tinea versicolor, Candida infections
The selection of an antimicrobial agent depends on what?
Sensitivity of the pathogen
After 3 months of antitubercular medications, you should see improvement in 3 areas
S/SX, CXR and sputum culture
New antibiotic for treating VRE, MRSA , MSSA) but not used before vancomycin and other antibiotics)
Oxazolidinones
linezolid (Zyvox)
Treat onychomycosis of the toenail or fingernail and requires liver enzymes to be drawn while on medication. Treatment lasts for several months or longer
Systemic Antifungal
terbineafin (Lamisil)
Used for the treatment of herpes zoster (shingles)
famciclovir (Famvir)
A life threatening secondary infection that results in diarrhea?
C-diff (Clostridum Difficile)
A patient receiving Rocephin develops white patches on the tongue. The nurse realizes this is:
A secondary infection
Treat severe infections by multidrug-resistant organisms (Abdominal and pelvic infections)
Carbapenems
meropenem (Merrem)
4 concerns when using Tetracyclines?
Photosensitivity, may discolor teeth, do not use in children less than 8 or pregnant women
A common antibiotic drug used to treat sexually transmitted diseases
Metronidazole (Flagyl)
When antibiotics alter the blood cells?
Dyscrasias
A patient is receiving his third intravenous dose of a penicillin drug. He calls the nurse to
report that he is feeling “anxious” and is having trouble breathing. What will the nurse do
first?
Stop the medication
The nurse is monitoring a patient who has been on antibiotic therapy for 2 weeks. Today
the patient tells the nurse that he has had watery diarrhea since the day before and is
having abdominal cramps. His oral temperature is 101° F (38.3° C). Based on these
findings, which conclusion will the nurse draw?
Test for c-diff
A patient who has started drug therapy for tuberculosis wants to know how long he will be
on the medications. Which response by the nurse is correct?
At least 24 months
During an intravenous (IV) infusion of amphotericin B, a patient develops tingling and
numbness in his toes and fingers. What will the nurse do first?
Stop the infusion