Nokea
A patient with an intestinal infection that is positive for the Giardia lamblia organism will be taking an antiprotozoal drug. The nurse will include which information in the teaching plan for this patient?
- A. The urine may become dilute and pale during therapy.
- B. Taking the medications with food reduces gastrointestinal upset.
- C. The medications should be taken on an empty stomach.
- D. The drugs may be discontinued once the diarrhea subsides.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Taking these drugs with food reduces gastrointestinal upset. Antiprotozoal drugs may cause the urine to turn dark. These drugs should be administered for the prescribed length of time to ensure complete eradication of the infection.
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A patient who has a helminthic infection has a prescription for pyrantel. Which is one of the common adverse effects that the patient may experience while on this therapy?
- A. Insomnia
- B. Seizures
- C. Diarrhea
- D. Dark discoloration of the urine
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Diarrhea and abdominal pain are some of the possible gastrointestinal effects of pyrantel. The other options are incorrect.
A woman is traveling to a country where she will be at high risk for malarial infection. What will the nurse teach her regarding prophylactic therapy with hydroxychloroquine?
- A. Hydroxychloroquine is better absorbed and has fewer adverse effects if taken on an empty stomach.
- B. The drug is started 3 weeks before exposure but can be discontinued once she leaves the area.
- C. The medication is taken only when she observes mosquito bites because it can have toxic effects if taken unnecessarily.
- D. The drug is usually started 1 to 2 weeks before traveling to endemic areas and is continued for 4 weeks after leaving the area.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Prophylaxis of malaria with hydroxychloroquine is usually started 1 to 2 weeks before exposure and continued for 4 weeks after the person has left the area. The medication should be taken with food to decrease gastrointestinal upset.
A patient who is being treated for malaria has started therapy with quinine and tetracycline. He asks the nurse why he is on an antibiotic when malaria is caused by a parasite. Which response by the nurse is correct?
- A. The tetracycline prevents reinfection by the malarial parasite.
- B. The antibiotic is combined with quinine to reduce the side effects of the quinine.
- C. An antibacterial drug prevents the occurrence of superinfection during antimalarial therapy.
- D. The two drugs are more effective against malaria when given together.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The combination of quinine and tetracycline takes advantage of their synergistic protozoacidal effects. The other responses are incorrect.
A patient is experiencing the exoerythrocytic phase of malaria. The nurse expects which drug to be used for this patient?
- A. Quinine
- B. Chloroquine
- C. Mefloquine
- D. Primaquine
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Primaquine is one of the few antimalarial drugs that can destroy the malarial parasites while they are in their exoerythrocytic phase. The other drugs are effective during the erythrocytic, or blood, phase.
A patient with late-stage HIV infection also has Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia. The nurse anticipates treatment with which medication for this pneumonia?
- A. Ivermectin
- B. Atovaquone
- C. Praziquantel
- D. Metronidazole
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pentamidine and atovaquone are used for the treatment of pneumonia caused by P. jirovecii. The other options are not used for this pneumonia.