A 12-year-old male is admitted to the pediatric unit due to persistent upper respiratory symptoms and respiratory distress. The patient has a history of developmental delay, chronic lung disease, and frequent respiratory infections. Upon assessment, the RN notes the patient to have a fever, moderate respiratory rate, productive cough, and large amount of nasal secretions. Upon report from the patient's mother, the patient has been on a 3-week course of antibiotics with no improvement in symptoms. The medical team completes a respiratory infection workup and the patient is diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) superinfection.
-The use of which of the following drugs results in the highest risk of superinfection in a patient receiving antimicrobial chemotherapy?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Broad-spectrum antibiotics are known to have a higher risk of causing superinfections due to their tendency to disrupt not only the target pathogen but also the normal flora of the body, leading to the overgrowth of opportunistic microorganisms. Narrow-spectrum antibiotics are less likely to cause superinfection as they only target specific pathogens without disturbing the normal flora. Antifungals and antivirals have a different mechanism of action and are not typically associated with the risk of bacterial superinfection.

A 12-Year-Old Male Is Admitted to the Pediatric Unit Due