jarvis physical examination and health assessment 9th edition test bank Related

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An 82-year-old woman receives oral amoxicillin-clavulanate for a skin abscess on her leg. She develops new onset of frequent watery stool that persists for several days after the antibiotic is stopped. You obtain a stool for Clostridium difficile antigen, toxin, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The antigen and PCR are both positive. She has never had C. difficile infection before. What one statement is the best answer regarding her management?

  • A. Metronidazole is the treatment of choice for C. difficile infection.
  • B. Older adults with their first episode of C. difficile require a longer duration of treatment with vancomycin.
  • C. Fecal transplantation is the treatment of choice for C. difficile infection.
  • D. Either vancomycin or fidaxomicin are recommended for the first episode of C. difficile infection.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Either vancomycin or fidaxomicin are recommended for the first episode of C. difficile infection.

1. Choice A is incorrect because metronidazole is no longer recommended as first-line treatment due to increasing resistance.
2. Choice B is incorrect because there is no evidence suggesting older adults require a longer duration of treatment with vancomycin for their first episode.
3. Choice C is incorrect because while fecal transplantation can be used in refractory cases, it is not typically the first-line treatment.
4. The rationale for D being correct is that both vancomycin and fidaxomicin are recommended as first-line treatments for the initial episode of C. difficile infection based on current guidelines. This allows for flexibility in selecting the appropriate antibiotic based on individual patient factors.