Question 1

The nurse is caring for a client who is diagnosed with a highly virulent organism.The client's family asks what this means.What is the nurse's best response?

Accepted Answer

A highly virulent organism can cause disease even when present in small numbers, indicating its strong ability to cause disease.

Question 2

Which term is used to describe the stain of bacteria?

Accepted Answer

Gram-positive refers to bacteria that retain the crystal violet stain used in the Gram staining procedure, indicating the structure of their cell wall.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

Bacteriostatic medications are designed to slow the growth of bacteria rather than kill them outright. This allows the body's immune system to fight the infection more effectively.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of The client has been prescribed cefotaxime (Claforan).Which...

Question 5

Which of the statements is not correct regarding cephalosporins?

Accepted Answer

Cephalosporins vary in their absorption from the GI tract. While some can be absorbed well, others are poorly absorbed and must be administered via IM or IV routes, making statement D incorrect.

Question 6

A client has been prescribed penicillin (penicillin G).Which serious adverse effect will the nurse monitor for upon assessment?

Accepted Answer

Anaphylaxis is a serious and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur in some individuals in response to penicillin. It is a critical adverse effect that healthcare providers monitor for when administering any penicillin antibiotic.

Question 7

The nurse is instructing a client who has been prescribed tetracycline (Sumycin).What should the nurse advise this client to avoid while taking this medication?

Accepted Answer

Tetracycline can increase the skin's sensitivity to sunlight, leading to a greater risk of sunburn or skin rash. It's important for clients to avoid excessive sunlight and to use sun protection while taking this medication.

Question 8

The nurse is caring for a client with a bacterial infection.The nurse is explaining this type of infection to the family.The nurse states that bacteria are described and classified by which methods? (Select all that apply.)Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.

Accepted Answer

Bacteria are classified based on their ability to use oxygen (aerobic or anaerobic), their staining properties (Gram-positive or Gram-negative), and their shape (such as cocci, bacilli, and spirilla). Color and weight are not standard methods for describing or classifying bacteria.

Question 9

A client enters the emergency department with suspected exposure to anthrax.The physician confirms this suspicion and orders the client an antibiotic.Which medication would the nurse expect the physician to order?

Accepted Answer

Ciprofloxacin is a first-line treatment for anthrax exposure due to its effectiveness against Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium that causes anthrax.

Question 10

The nurse is preparing discharge instructions for a client who will be taking penicillin G.The client tells the nurse she is also taking birth control pills.What is the nurse's best response?

Accepted Answer

Antibiotics like penicillin G can reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills, so it's important to use an additional form of contraception during the antibiotic treatment and for at least one month after completing it to prevent unintended pregnancy.

Question 11

The nurse is caring for a client who is diagnosed with a superinfection.What signs and symptoms does the nurse expect upon assessment of the client? (Select all that apply.)Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.

Accepted Answer

Superinfections can occur when the normal flora is disrupted, often due to antibiotic use, leading to overgrowth of resistant organisms or fungi. Diarrhea can result from gastrointestinal flora disruption, bladder pain from a urinary tract infection, and vaginal discharge from a fungal or bacterial overgrowth in the vaginal area.

Question 12

The nurse is admitting a client to the acute care floor.While obtaining the history,the client tells the nurse they are allergic to penicillin.Which medication,if ordered by the prescriber,would be safe for this client?

Accepted Answer

Erythromycin (E-Mycin) is a macrolide antibiotic, which is a different class of antibiotics than penicillin, making it a safe alternative for patients with penicillin allergies. Cefaclor, Cefdinir, and Cephalexin are all cephalosporins, which have a cross-reactivity rate with penicillin allergies and may not be safe for this client.

Question 13

A sputum culture has been collected and sent for culture and sensitivity.The physician orders a broad-spectrum antibiotic.What is the reason this medication is ordered?

Accepted Answer

Broad-spectrum antibiotics are used initially for severe infections to cover a wide range of bacteria while awaiting specific culture and sensitivity results. Once these results are available, treatment can be adjusted to a narrow-spectrum antibiotic that specifically targets the identified bacteria, optimizing treatment and reducing the risk of antibiotic resistance.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of The client asks the nurse how bacteria...

Question 15

The nurse is admitting a client to the floor with a protozoan infection.Which medication would the nurse expect the physician to order?

Accepted Answer

Metronidazole (Flagyl) is commonly used to treat protozoan infections, such as those caused by Giardia lamblia or Trichomonas vaginalis.

Question 16

The nurse is admitting a client with a diagnosis of urinary tract infection.The physician has ordered an IV antibiotic.What is the priority prior to administering this medication?

Accepted Answer

Before administering an IV antibiotic for a urinary tract infection, it is important to obtain a urine specimen for culture and sensitivity. This helps in identifying the specific bacteria causing the infection and determining which antibiotic will be most effective against it.

Question 17

The nurse is discharging a client to home with a prescription for clarithromycin (Biaxin).Which statement by the client indicates understanding of the discharge teaching?

Accepted Answer

Clarithromycin (Biaxin) is an antibiotic, and it is important to complete the entire course of antibiotics as prescribed, even if the patient starts feeling better, to ensure the infection is fully treated and to prevent antibiotic resistance.

Question 18

The nurse is admitting a client to the acute care floor with methicillin-resistant S.aureus.The nurse would expect the physician to order which medication for this client?

Accepted Answer

Vancomycin (Vancocin) is commonly used to treat infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), as MRSA is resistant to many other antibiotics, including penicillins and cephalosporins.

Question 19

The nurse is caring for a client receiving gentamicin IV.Which adverse effect would the nurse report to the prescriber immediately?

Accepted Answer

Ototoxicity is a serious adverse effect of gentamicin, a potent antibiotic. It can lead to irreversible hearing loss or balance issues, thus it should be reported immediately to prevent permanent damage.

Question 20

The nurse is discussing treatment for a superinfection with a client and family members.The family asks the nurse what a superinfection is.What is the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

A superinfection occurs when the normal flora (microorganisms normally present in the body) are destroyed by antibiotics, leading to overgrowth of resistant strains or fungi. This can result in a secondary infection that is often more difficult to treat.

Quiz 27: Drugs for Bacterial Infections

The nurse is caring for a client who is diagnosed with a highly virulent organism.The client's family asks what this means.What is the nurse's best response?

Which term is used to describe the stain of bacteria?

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

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

Which of the statements is not correct regarding cephalosporins?

A client has been prescribed penicillin (penicillin G) .Which serious adverse effect will the nurse monitor for upon assessment?

The nurse is instructing a client who has been prescribed tetracycline (Sumycin) .What should the nurse advise this client to avoid while taking this medication?