A 16-year-old sexually active female has a fever, bilateral lower abdominal pain, and malaise. A speculum and bimanual exam reveals adnexal tenderness. The urinalysis is normal and cervical cultures are pending. What medications will the primary care pediatric nurse practitioner prescribe for this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient's symptoms and exam findings are suggestive of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which is commonly caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. Therefore, a combination of antibiotics that cover these pathogens is necessary. Ceftriaxone and azithromycin are effective against gonorrhea and chlamydia, respectively, while doxycycline is effective against both. Metronidazole is included to cover anaerobic bacteria that may also be present in PID. Penicillin is not effective against these pathogens and is not typically used for PID. Cefotaxime is not the best choice as it is primarily used for severe infections and there is not enough information to suggest that the patient is experiencing a severe infection.

A 16-Year-Old Sexually Active Female Has a Fever, Bilateral Lower