Deck 23: Drugs for Bacterial Infections

Question 1

The pharmacist is caring for a patient who is prescribed a bacteriostatic medication. Which explanation by the pharmacist about these medications is most appropriate?

A) Both terms, bacteriostatic and bacteriocidal, have the same meaning.
B) Bacteriostatic medications must be given first.
C) Bacteriocidal medications kill bacteria, and bacteriostatic medications slow the growth of bacteria.
D) Bacteriocidal medications slow the growth of bacteria, and bacteriostatic medications kill bacteria.

Answer 1

Bacteriocidal medications kill bacteria, and bacteriostatic medications slow the growth of bacteria.

Question 2

Some medications do not kill the bacteria but instead slow their growth, allowing the body's natural defences to eliminate the microorganisms. These medications would be:

A) Bacteriocidal
B) Bacteriostatic
C) Resistant
D) Superinfections

Answer 2

Bacteriostatic

Question 3

The patient asks the pharmacist how bacteria become resistant to antibiotics. What should the pharmacist include in the response? (Select all that apply.) Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.

A) The longer an antibiotic is used in the population and the more often it is prescribed, the higher will be the percentage of resistant strains.
B) Prematurely stopping antibiotic therapy allows some pathogens to survive and become resistant to antibiotics.
C) Bacteria reproduce quickly, and can have a variation in the genetic code that allows them to become resistant.
D) Frequent handwashing by health care providers encourages the spread of bacteria to many patients receiving antibiotics in the hospital.
E) Organisms do not grow resistant to medications.

Answer 3

The longer an antibiotic is used in the population and the more often it is prescribed, the higher will be the percentage of resistant strains.
Prematurely stopping antibiotic therapy allows some pathogens to survive and become resistant to antibiotics.

Question 4

Ways to decrease the development of resistance with antibiotics include (select all that apply): Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.

A) Prevent infections by getting immunizations.
B) Advise patients to stop taking their antibiotic when they start to feel better.
C) Restrict use of antibiotics to medically necessary only.
D) Prevent transmission of the pathogen by using methods of proper hygiene.

Question 5

The patient has been prescribed cefotaxime. Which infections does the pharmacist anticipate this patient to have? (Select all that apply.) Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.

A) Skin infection
B) Central nervous system infection
C) Joint infection
D) Lower respiratory tract infection
E) Viral infection

Question 6

A patient is being admitted to the acute care floor. While obtaining the history, the patient tells the pharmacy technician she is allergic to penicillin. Which medication, if ordered by the physician, would be safe for this patient?

A) Cefaclor
B) Erythromycin
C) Cefprozil
D) Cephalexin

Question 7

The pharmacist is providing instructions to a patient being discharged on ciprofloxacin. What should be included in the teaching? (Select all that apply.) Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.

A) "Drink as much coffee as you would like."
B) "Do not take with antacids."
C) "You might have some dizziness."
D) "Do not take with mineral supplements."
E) "Take the medication with non-caffeine beverages."

Question 8

A patient has been diagnosed with tuberculosis. How long does the pharmacist anticipate this patient will require treatment?

A) 2-4 weeks
B) 6-12 months
C) 3-6 months
D) 10-14 days

Question 9

A highly virulent organism is one that can produce disease when present in very small numbers.

Question 10

Gram negative bacteria have a thicker cell wall than gram positive bacteria making them more difficult to kill.

Question 11

An antibiotic can be either bacteriostatic or bactericidal, but never both.

Question 12

Acquired resistance develops from taking too high a dose of antibiotics and less likely when smaller doses are administered over a longer period of time.

Question 13

Organisms isolated from the specimens are grown in the laboratory and identified then various antibiotics are tested against those organisms. This is referred to as culture and sensitivity testing.

Question 14

A common superinfection after the use of a broad spectrum antibiotic is vaginal yeast infections.

Question 15

Ototoxicity is a common side effect of erythromycin and clarithromycin.

Question 16

For medications to reach the microorganisms isolated in the tubercles of a patient suffering from tuberculosis, therapy must continue for 6 to 12 weeks.

Question 17

Phillip Peters is a 10 year old male weighing 30 kg with acute otitis media who presents an antibiotic prescription to your pharmacy. It reads: "cefprozil susp 30 mg/kg q12h x 5 d." You check his allergy information and Phillip is allergic to amoxicillin and peanuts. Proceed as you would in practice.

Question 18

List ways to prevent resistance to antibiotics from developing.

Question 19

List the common antibiotics in your area, their classification and their original brand name.