Deck 69: Antiviral and Antiprotozoal Agents

Question 1

A patient is taking amantadine to treat a viral infection.The patient calls the primary care NP to report having blurred vision.The NP should:

A) question the patient about suicidal ideation.
B) tell the patient to stop the medication immediately.
C) counsel the patient to avoid driving until this subsides.
D) tell the patient to come to the clinic for an electroencephalogram.

Answer 1

counsel the patient to avoid driving until this subsides.

Question 2

A patient who has genital herpes has frequent outbreaks.The patient asks the primary care NP why it is necessary to take oral acyclovir all the time and not just for acute outbreaks.The NP should explain that oral acyclovir may:

A) prevent the virus from developing resistance.
B) cause episodes to be shorter and less frequent.
C) actually eradicate the virus and cure the disease.
D) reduce the chance of transmitting the virus to others.

Answer 2

cause episodes to be shorter and less frequent.

Question 3

A patient refuses an influenza vaccine and asks the primary care nurse practitioner (NP)if the influenza medications will prevent him from getting influenza.The NP should tell the patient that although the influenza vaccine remains the best protection against influenza:

A) amantadine may be given prophylactically.
B) rimantadine is curative if given early after exposure.
C) zanamivir can be used before or after exposure to influenza A or B.
D) the influenza vaccine is unnecessary because antiviral medications are so effective.

Answer 3

zanamivir can be used before or after exposure to influenza A or B.

Question 4

A patient who is taking metronidazole calls the primary care NP to report severe nausea and vomiting along with heart palpitations.The NP should:

A) counsel the patient to take the medication with food.
B) ask the patient about any recent alcohol consumption.
C) reassure the patient that these symptoms will subside.
D) instruct the patient to go to an emergency department for intravenous fluids.

Question 5

A patient comes to the clinic before a trip to an area where malaria is endemic.The primary care NP will prescribe:

A) tinidazole (Tindamax).
B) metronidazole (Flagyl).
C) chloroquine (Plaquenil).
D) amantadine (Symmetrel).

Question 6

A patient who is currently not sexually active has an outbreak of genital herpes.The patient asks the primary care NP how this could have occurred without active infection since being treated more than 2 years ago.The NP should tell the patient that:

A) the infection must be due to a resistant herpes simplex virus (HSV) strain.
B) the original infection may have been partially treated.
C) the current infection may be from contact with a toilet seat.
D) successful treatment won't prevent future outbreaks of active infection.

Question 7

A 60-year-old patient comes to the clinic reporting a sudden onset of a painful rash that began the day before.The primary care NP notes a vesicular rash along a dermatome on one side of the patient's back.The patient has a low-grade fever.The NP will prescribe:

A) varicella vaccine.
B) acyclovir (Zovirax).
C) metronidazole (Flagyl).
D) amantadine (Symmetrel).

Question 8

The primary care NP sees a female patient and makes a diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis.The patient does not want to tell her partner she has it because she thinks she may have contracted it from someone else.The NP will tell her:

A) as long as she takes the antibiotic for 7 days, the infection will be cured.
B) she and all of her partners must be treated, or the infection will not be cured.
C) she can be treated, but if the infection recurs, she will have to tell both partners.
D) she and the person who infected her will need one-time doses of metronidazole.