Pharm 130 – Study Guide Quiz 2

Chemotherapy Precautions

• Risk factors for cancer include genetic predisposition, lifestyle factors, and environmental exposures.
• Acceptable treatments for cancer comprise chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) is critical for healthcare providers, including gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection when handling chemotherapy agents.
• Protecting a patient's family involves advising on exposure limits, safe disposal of waste, and hygiene practices.
• Serious adverse effects of traditional chemotherapy can include nausea, vomiting, hair loss, immunosuppression, and organ toxicity.

Immune System

• Characteristics of immunity encompass the ability to recognize and eliminate pathogens and the development of immunological memory.
• Active immunity is acquired through infection or vaccination; passive immunity is transferred from mother to child or via antibodies.
• Natural immunity arises from exposure to pathogens, whereas artificial immunity is acquired through vaccines or antibody injections.
• Vaccinations can be classified into live attenuated, inactivated, subunit, and mRNA vaccines; administration routes include intramuscular, subcutaneous, and oral.
• Antibodies are proteins produced by B cells to identify antigens; antigens are substances that provoke an immune response.
• RhoGAM is an immunoglobulin used to prevent hemolytic disease of the newborn in Rh-incompatible pregnancies.
• An autoimmune disorder occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own cells.
• Immunization is a process to stimulate immunity using vaccines.
• Immunosuppressive drugs inhibit the immune response, often used post-transplant or for autoimmune diseases.
• Intended responses of immunosuppressive therapy include prevention of organ rejection and management of immune-mediated conditions; adverse events can consist of increased infection risk and malignancy.
• Biologics are products derived from living organisms used to treat autoimmune diseases; antirejection drugs are specifically utilized to prevent transplant rejection.
• JAK inhibitors are a class of medications that interfere with the Janus kinase pathways to modulate immune responses.

Antibiotics

• Antibiotic classifications include:
  • Penicillins: disrupt bacterial cell wall synthesis.
  • Cephalosporins: similar action to penicillins, with a broader spectrum.
  • Carbapenems: highly effective against resistant bacteria.
  • Vancomycin: used for serious infections; requires careful monitoring.
  • Tetracyclines: inhibit protein synthesis; contraindicated in pregnancy.
  • Macrolides: effective for respiratory tract infections and skin conditions.
  • Aminoglycosides: potent against gram-negative bacteria, used in serious infections.
  • Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim (Bactrim): commonly used for UTIs.
  • Fluoroquinolones: broad-spectrum, effective against various infections.
  • UTI antibiotics: include nitrofurantoin and fosfomycin.
  • UTI analgesics: often phenazopyridine for pain relief.
  • Antiprotozoal drugs target protozoan infections like malaria.
• Adverse effects of vancomycin include nephrotoxicity and "red man syndrome" from rapid infusion.
• General precautions before administering antibiotics require allergy assessment and renal function monitoring.
• Common side effects of antibiotics include gastrointestinal upset, allergic reactions, and potential for superinfections.
• Goals of therapy aim for infection resolution, eradication of pathogens, and prevention of complications; nursing responsibilities include patient education about adherence and side effects.
• Definitions in bacteriology include culture and sensitivity for selecting appropriate therapy; spectrum of efficacy indicates the range of bacterial types affected.
• Classifications of bacteria involve gram-positive vs. gram-negative, shape (cocci, bacilli), virulence factors, and categorization as opportunistic versus pathogenic, along with the distinction between bacteriostatic and bactericidal actions.

This quiz covers essential information on chemotherapy precautions, including risk factors for cancer and acceptable treatments. Additionally, it delves into the immune system with a focus on types of immunity and vaccination characteristics as outlined in Chapter 11.