Anti-Infective Agents Q&A

An elderly patient tells the nurse that he uses aspirin for “anything that hurts.” The nurse will assess for which most common signs of chronic salicylate intoxication in adults? Select all that apply. (Choose 3.)

1. Photosensitivity

2. Nervousness

3. Tinnitus

4. Nausea & vomiting

5. Bradycardia

6. Hyperventilation

3. tinnitus

4. nausea and vomiting

6. hyperventilation

An elderly patient tells the nurse that he uses aspirin for “anything that hurts.” What is the MOST common sign of chronic salicylate intoxication in adults?

1. Photosensitivity

2. Nervousness

3. Tinnitus

4. Nausea & vomiting

5. Bradycardia

6. Hyperventilation

3. tinnitus

The nurse is monitoring a patient who has been on antibiotic therapy for 8 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. Based on these findings, which conclusion will the nurse draw?

1. The patient’s infection has not responded to the antibiotic therapy.

2. The patient is showing typical side effects of antibiotic therapy.

3. The patient needs to be tested for Clostridium difficile infection.

4. The patient is showing signs and symptoms of a hypersensitivity reaction

3. The patient needs to be tested for Clostridium difficile infection.

The nurse is monitoring for therapeutic results of antibiotic therapy in a patient with an infection. Which laboratory value would indicate therapeutic effectiveness of this therapy?

1. Increased red blood cell count

2. Increased hemoglobin level

3. Decreased white blood cell count

4. Decreased platelet count

3. Decreased white blood cell count

A patient will be having oral surgery and has received an antibiotic to take for 1 week before the surgery. The nurse knows that this is an example of which type of therapy?

1. Empirical

2. Prophylactic

3. Definitive

4. Resistance

2. prophylactic

During antibiotic therapy, the nurse will monitor closely for signs and symptoms of a hypersensitivity reaction. Which of these assessment findings may be an indication of a hypersensitivity reaction? Select all that apply.

1. Diarrhea

2. Rash

3. Palpitations

4. Itching

5. White coating on the tongue

6. Urticaria

7. Nausea

2. rash

4. itching

6. urticaria

The nurse is administering intravenous vancomycin (Vancocin) to a patient who has had gastrointestinal surgery. Which nursing measures are appropriate? Select all that apply.

1. Monitor serum creatinine levels

2. Encourage extra fluids during vancomycin therapy

3. Infuse the drug over 30 minutes

4. Warn the patient that a flushed feeling or facial itching may occur

5. Instruct the patient to report dizziness or a feeling of fullness in the ears

6. Monitor blood pressure for hypotension during the infusion

1. Monitor serum creatinine levels

2. Encourage extra fluids during vancomycin therapy

4. Warn the patient that a flushed feeling or facial itching may occur

5. Instruct the patient to report dizziness or a feeling of fullness in the ears

6. Monitor blood pressure for hypotension during the infusion

A patient is taking a combination of anti-retroviral viral drugs as treatment for early stages of HIV+ infection. The patient asks the nurse how the drugs work to kill the virus. Which is the nurse’s best response?

1. “These drugs are effective if you are no longer exposed to the virus.”

2. “These drugs don’t kill the virus, but they keep the virus from multiplying.”

3. “These drugs kill the virus without harming your body’s healthy cells.”

4. “These drugs may kill healthy cells as well as the viruses.”

2. “These drugs don’t kill the virus, but they keep the virus from multiplying.”

The nurse is preparing to administer medications to a patient who has been newly diagnosed with HIV+. The patient asks, “Why do I have to take different drugs for the same thing?” Which responses by the nurse are correct? Select all that apply.

1. “Multiple drugs work in different ways to attack the virus.”

2. “Taking multiple drugs reduces the chance that your HIV+ will become drug resistant.”

3. “Using more than one drug can help to reduce side effects because you will take lower doses.”

4. “Using multiple drugs can help in reducing toxicity because you take lower doses.”

1. “Multiple drugs work in different ways to attack the virus.”

2. “Taking multiple drugs reduces the chance that your HIV+ will become drug resistant.”

3. “Using more than one drug can help to reduce side effects because you will take lower doses.”

4. “Using multiple drugs can help in reducing toxicity because you take lower doses.”

The nurse is assessing a patient who is about to receive antifungal drug therapy. Which condition, if found in the patient, would be of most concern?

1. Diabetes mellitus

2. Hepatitis

3. Pulmonary disease

4. Bleeding disorders

2. hepatitis

The nurse is reviewing the therapeutic effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which include which effects? Select all that apply.

1. Anxiolytic

2. Analgesic

3. Sedative

4. Antipyretic

5. Antimicrobial

6. Anti-inflammatory

2. analgesic

4. antipyretic

6. anti-inflammatory

A patient with gout has been treated with allopurinol (Zyloprim) for 2 months. The nurse will monitor laboratory results and/or clinical presentation for which therapeutic effects? Select all that apply.

1. Decreased uric acid levels

2. Decreased joint swelling

3. Decreased prothrombin time

4. Decreased white blood cell count

5. Decreased pain and joint tenderness

6. Increased hemoglobin and hematocrit levels

1. decreased uric acid levels

2. decreased joint swelling

5. decreased pain and joint tenderness

A 6-year-old child who has chickenpox also has a fever of 102.9° F. The child’s mother asks the nurse if she should use baby aspirin to reduce the fever. What is the best response by the nurse?

1. “You can use aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen if the bottle is labeled ‘pediatric’.”

2. “Acetaminophen (Tylenol) should be used to reduce his fever, not aspirin.”

3. “You can use the low-dose, baby aspirin – make sure to follow the instructions on the bottle.”

4. “No.”

2. “Acetaminophen (Tylenol) should be used to reduce his fever, not aspirin.”

A patient who has a history of coronary artery disease has been instructed to take one 81-mg aspirin tablet a day. The nurse is aware that the purpose of this dose of aspirin is to

1. reduce anxiety.

2. reduce inflammation.

3. relieve pain.

4. prevent thrombus formation.

5. prevent fever.

4. prevent thrombus formation

A.B. was diagnosed with a severe systemic fungal infection and an amphotericin B, an antifungal medication, infusion is ordered. Before beginning the infusion, what lab studies are most important to be assessed?

1. CBC with diff.

2. LFTs.

3. PT/INR.

4. Serum K+.

Once the lab studies have been completed, which other orders should A.B.’s nurse expect to be written with the amphotericin B infusion? Select all that apply.

1. Restrict fluids during the infusion.

2. Administer acetaminophen (Tylenol) 650 mg PO prior to the infusion.

3. Administer diphenhydramine (Benadryl), an antihistamine, 50 mg PO prior to the infusion.

4. Infuse the amphotericin B over 30 minutes.

2. LFTs

2. Administer acetaminophen (Tylenol) 650 mg PO prior to the infusion.

3. Administer diphenhydramine (Benadryl), an antihistamine, 50 mg PO prior to the infusion.

A 45-y-o paraplegic, is admitted for an infected stage IV sacral pressure injury and a temp of 103.3. Admission orders include (1) IV vancomycin q 12 h ASAP, (2) ibuprofen 400 mg PO PRN pain and fever > 100.4 degrees F, (3) obtain blood cultures from 2 different sites, and (4) referral to a wound care nurse. Place these in rank order, with the most important as #1 and the least important as #4.

1. Administer Ibuprofen mg PO

2. Administer IV vancomycin

3. Complete referral to wound care nurse

4. Obtain blood and urine cultures

4. obtain blood and urine cultures

2. administer IV vancomycin

1. administer ibuprofen mg PO

3. complete referral to wound care nurse

If a patient is taking Amoxicillin (penicillin), an antibiotic agent, with an oral anticoagulant, the nurse will monitor for which possible interaction?

1. Reduced action of oral anticoagulants

2. Increased effects of oral anticoagulants

3. Increased potential for renal impairment

4. Increased potential for liver dysfunction

2. increased effects of oral anticoagulants