A patient is taking erythromycin ethylsuccinate for a chlamydial infection and develops vaginal candidiasis. The prescriber orders ketoconazole to treat the superinfection. What will the nurse do?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Erythromycin can prolong the QT interval when present in large concentrations. When erythromycin is combined with a CYP3A4 inhibitor, such as ketoconazole, the risk of sudden cardiac death increases fivefold. The nurse should discuss changing the antifungal medication to one that is not a CYP3A4 inhibitor. It is not correct to give the ketoconazole without questioning the order. Increasing the dose of erythromycin would increase the risk of QT prolongation. Changing to a different preparation of erythromycin would not alter the risk.

A Patient Is Taking Erythromycin Ethylsuccinate for a Chlamydial Infection