Nokea
A patient has been diagnosed with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). The nurse expects to see orders for which drug?
- A. Dapsone, a miscellaneous antibiotic
- B. Ciprofloxacin, a quinolone
- C. Linezolid, an oxazolidinone
- D. Colistimethate sodium, a polypeptide antibiotic
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Colistimethate sodium (Coly-Mycin), commonly referred to as colistin, is now being used again, often as one of the only drugs available to treat CRE. The other options are incorrect.
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The nurse is administering intravenous vancomycin to a patient who has had gastrointestinal surgery. Which nursing measures are appropriate? (Select all that apply.)
- A. Monitoring serum creatinine levels
- B. Restricting fluids while the patient is on this medication
- C. Warning the patient that a flushed feeling or facial itching may occur
- D. Instructing the patient to report dizziness or a feeling of fullness in the ears
- E. Reporting a trough drug level of 11 mcg/mL and holding the drug
- F. Reporting a trough drug level of 24 mcg/mL and holding the drug
Correct Answer: A,C,D,F
Rationale: Constant monitoring for drug-related neurotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity, and superinfection remains critical to patient safety. Monitor for nephrotoxicity by monitoring serum creatinine levels. Ototoxicity may be indicated if the patient experiences dizziness or a feeling of fullness in the ears, and these symptoms must be reported immediately. Vancomycin infusions may cause red man syndrome, which is characterized by flushing of the neck and face and a decrease in blood pressure. Optimal trough blood levels of vancomycin are 10 to 20 mcg/mL; therefore, the drug should not be administered when there is a trough level of 24 mcg/mL.
A patient who has been hospitalized for 2 weeks has developed a pressure ulcer that contains multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Which drug would the nurse expect to be chosen for therapy?
- A. Metronidazole
- B. Ciprofloxacin
- C. Vancomycin
- D. Tobramycin
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Vancomycin is the antibiotic of choice for the treatment of MRSA. The other drugs are not used for MRSA.
The nurse is reviewing the medication orders for a patient who will be receiving aminoglycoside therapy. Which other medication or medication class, if ordered, would be a potential interaction concern?
- A. Calcium channel blockers
- B. Phenytoin
- C. Proton pump inhibitors
- D. Loop diuretics
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Concurrent use of aminoglycosides with loop diuretics increases the risk for ototoxicity. The other drugs and drug classes do not cause interactions.
When a patient is on aminoglycoside therapy, the nurse will monitor the patient for which indicators of potential toxicity?
- A. Fever
- B. White blood cell count of 8000 cells/mm^3
- C. Tinnitus and dizziness
- D. Decreased blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Dizziness, tinnitus, hearing loss, or a sense of fullness in the ears could indicate ototoxicity, a potentially serious toxicity in a patient. Nephrotoxicity is indicated by rising blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels. Fever may be indicative of the patient's infection; a white blood cell count of 7000 cells/mm^3 is within the normal range of 5000 to 10,000 cells/mm^3.
A patient is receiving aminoglycoside therapy and will be receiving a beta-lactam antibiotic as well. The patient asks why two antibiotics have been ordered. What is the nurse's best response?
- A. The combined effect of both antibiotics is greater than each of them alone.
- B. One antibiotic is not strong enough to fight the infection.
- C. We have not yet isolated the bacteria, so the two antibiotics are given to cover a wide range of microorganisms.
- D. We can give a reduced amount of each one if we give them together.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Aminoglycosides are often used in combination with other antibiotics, such as beta-lactams or vancomycin, in the treatment of various infections because the combined effect of the two antibiotics is greater than that of either drug alone.