Lecture Notes

Antitussives

• Antitussives suppress coughing, especially when the cough is non-productive.
• They help patients sleep and reduce pain.
• Antitussives prevent the breaking up and expulsion of mucus.
• If mucus is present, it needs to be broken up and expelled to prevent respiratory infections.

Shadow Health Assignments

• Failing to complete Shadow Health assignments may hinder clinical progression and require retaking clinicals.
• Deadline: One week from today at 11:59 PM.

Bronchospasms and Asthma Management

• Medications are used prophylactically to manage bronchospasms and asthma.
• They can be used before exposure to conditions or substances that cause bronchospasms (wheezing or difficulty breathing).

Goal of Medications

• The primary goal is to dilate the airway to ensure adequate airflow, as airways are often obstructed.
• Bronchodilators and some anticholinergics help relax and dilate the airway.
• Medications can be used prophylactically before events that may cause flare-ups.

Prophylactic Use

• Prophylactic use involves using medication before an event that might cause a flare-up.
• Important considerations:
  • Correct inhaler technique.
  • Coordination with breathing.
  • Resting the mouth after use.
  • Potential side effects like oral candida (thrush).
• Compliance is crucial for managing the disorder effectively.

Antibiotic Sensitivity

• Information on antibiotic sensitivity helps determine appropriate treatment.
• "S" indicates that the bug is susceptible to the antibiotic.
• "R" indicates that the bug is resistant to the antibiotic.
• Doctors will prescribe antibiotics to which the infection is susceptible.

Case Study: E. Coli and K. Pneumoniae

• Result 1: E. coli
• Result 2: K. pneumoniae
• These are extracellular infections often acquired in hospital settings.

UTIs and Catheters

• Avoid using catheters when treating UTIs.
• Catheters can disrupt the pH balance, making the environment more conducive to infection.

Factors Affecting Bladder Health

• Concentrated urine irritates the bladder wall, increasing the incidence of bladder spasms and urinary incontinence.
• Increased fluid intake is encouraged.

Key Words in Questions

• Pay attention to key words like "only" in questions.

Medications Contraindications

• Specific drugs (Table 440 1.2) should not be administered to patients with:
  • Narrow-angle glaucoma.
  • Myasthenia gravis.

Drug Interactions

• Consider drug interactions with fetuses during development.
• Sweat and tears may be tinged reddish-orange while taking rifampin.
  • This is harmless and temporary, though it may permanently discolor soft contact lenses.
• Rifampin must be taken between meals.

Potassium Supplementation

• Potassium supplementation may be necessary to maintain therapeutic range.
• Understanding value numbers is crucial for correct answers.

Therapeutic Range of Potassium

• The therapeutic range for potassium is 3.5-5.0.
• Values outside this range increase the risk of toxicity.

Quiz Information

• Quiz to include the recent jeopardy content.