Questions and Answers
What is a critical nursing intervention for a patient receiving cephalosporins?
Which of the following antibiotics is effective against MRSA?
What should be avoided when administering cephalosporins?
In what way do cephalosporins primarily act against bacteria?
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Which of the following is an example of a first-generation cephalosporin?
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What type of infections can cephalosporins effectively treat?
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Which of the following adverse effects is associated with cephalosporins?
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What is a recommended client teaching regarding the use of antibiotics?
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What is the primary purpose of penicillins in antimicrobial therapy?
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Which method is preferred for identifying microorganisms when gram stain does not yield a positive identification?
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Which of the following is a potential adverse effect of penicillins?
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Before administering antibiotics, what should be collected to ensure appropriate treatment?
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Which of the following is NOT an example of a narrow spectrum penicillin?
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Which nursing intervention is important when administering penicillins via intramuscular injection?
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What is a common teaching point for clients prescribed penicillins?
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Which function is primarily inhibited by the method of action of certain antimicrobials?
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Study Notes
Principles of Antimicrobial Therapy
- Antimicrobials are used to treat infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.
- Mechanisms of action include:
- Destroying bacterial cell walls.
- Inhibiting unique bacterial enzymes essential for survival.
- Impairing protein synthesis in ribosomes.
- Disrupting RNA and DNA synthesis/functions.
- Inhibiting viral replication.
- Classified into narrow-spectrum (target specific bacteria) and broad-spectrum (target a wide range of bacteria).
Selection of Antimicrobials
- Accurate identification of pathogens is essential for effective treatment.
- Lab tests (blood, urine, sputum, wound drainage) used to identify microorganisms.
- Gram stain allows direct identification of organisms under a microscope.
- Cultures grow colonies over time and are preferred if gram stains yield inconclusive results.
- Culture specimens must be collected before starting medication to avoid contamination.
Penicillins
- Serve to destroy bacteria by weakening their cell walls.
- Common uses include treating pneumonia, meningitis, endocarditis (prophylaxis), UTIs, and syphilis.
- Adverse effects involve anaphylaxis, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea (N/V/D), nephrotoxicity, thrombocytopenia, Steven-Johnson syndrome, and Clostridium difficile (C. diff).
- Prefix: -CILLIN, with examples including:
- Natural penicillins: Bicillin CR (narrow spectrum).
- Aminopenicillins: Amoxil (amoxicillin), Principin (ampicillin) (broad spectrum).
- Combination therapies: Augmentin, Zosyn, Unasyn.
- Extended spectrum: Geocillin, Ticar.
- Nursing interventions include administering via deep IM injection in large muscle, rotating sites, and ensuring medications are taken on an empty stomach.
- Client education emphasizes adherence to the full course and proper suspension storage.
Penicillins and Antibiotic Resistance
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) does not respond to standard penicillin therapies; requires higher potency antibiotics like Vancomycin.
- Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) represent a newer antibiotic resistance challenge.
Cephalosporins
- Prefix: CEF- and CEPH-, with examples:
- First Generation: Duricef (cefadroxil), Ancef (cefazolin), Keflex (cephalexin).
- Second Generation: Mefoxin (cefoxitin), Cefzil (cefprozil).
- Third Generation: Omnicef (cefdinir), Cefobid (cefoperazone), Claforan (cefotaxime), Rocephin (ceftriaxone).
- Function similarly to penicillins by destroying bacterial cell walls.
- Most drugs administered IM or IV due to poor GI absorption.
- Uses include respiratory infections, otitis media, bone/joint infections, UTIs, and surgical site infections.
- Adverse effects are similar to penicillins, including cross-sensitivity with PCN.
Inhibitors of Cell Wall Synthesis
- Key examples include Azactam (aztreonam), Primaxin (imipenem/cilastatin), and Vancomycin.
- Purpose is to disrupt bacterial cell walls leading to microorganism death.
- Primarily used against MRSA and C. diff infections.
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Description
Explore the principles and methods of antimicrobial therapy for treating infections. This quiz covers various mechanisms of action, classifications of anti-infectives, and the process of selecting appropriate antimicrobials based on lab testing. Enhance your understanding of how these therapies work against bacteria and viruses.
