The nurse is caring for a patient who takes low-dose erythromycin as a prophylactic medication. The patient will begin taking cefaclor for treatment of an acute infection. The nurse should discuss this with the provider because taking both of these medications simultaneously can cause which effect?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic that can inhibit the metabolism of other drugs by the liver, potentially leading to increased levels of those drugs in the body. However, in the context of cefaclor, a cephalosporin antibiotic, the concern is not about increased drug levels but rather the potential for antagonistic effects when used with other bacteriostatic agents like erythromycin. This can lead to decreased effectiveness of cefaclor because erythromycin may inhibit the growth of bacteria that cefaclor needs to be actively dividing in order to exert its bactericidal effect.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient Who Takes Low-Dose