The nurse is caring for a patient with colorectal cancer who has been receiving continuous infusion chemotherapy at home. The patient complains of mouth sores and difficulty swallowing. Upon exam, the homecare nurse notes a whitish coating on the tongue and mucosal breakdown on the inner cheeks and lips. The nurse informs the patient, "The sores in your mouth are caused by the chemotherapy, but it looks like you may also have a secondary yeast infection in your mouth and throat. I will call the doctor so you can be seen right away." The nurse recognizes which of the following medications will most likely be ordered to treat the esophageal candidiasis once the patient is seen by a physician?
A) Ditropan XL (oxybutynin)
B) Fosamax (alendronate)
C) Fluoroplex (fluorouracil)
D) Diflucan (fluconazole)

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Diflucan (fluconazole) is an antifungal medication that is commonly used to treat yeast infections, including esophageal candidiasis. It works by inhibiting the growth and replication of the fungal cells, leading to their eventual death. Oxybutynin (Ditropan XL) is a medication used to treat symptoms of an overactive bladder, alendronate (Fosamax) is a medication used to treat osteoporosis, and fluorouracil (Fluoroplex) is a chemotherapy medication used to treat cancer. None of these medications would be appropriate for treating esophageal candidiasis.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient with Colorectal Cancer