Anti-Infectives/Antibiotics

Question 1

what are some of the body’s defenses toward infection?

Answer 1

physical barriers; physiologic defenses; phagocytic cells

Question 2

what are the signs of infection?

Answer 2

fever, lethargy, slow-wave sleep induction, classic signs of inflammation (redness, swelling, heat, and pain)

Question 3

what is the goal of antiinfective therapy?

Answer 3

reduction of the population invading the organism

Question 4

immune response

Answer 4

a complex process involving chemical mediators, leukocytes, antibodies, and locally released enzymes and chemicals

Question 5

narrow spectrum antibiotics

Answer 5

effective against only a few microorganisms with a very specific metabolic pathway or enzyme

Question 6

broad spectrum antibiotics

Answer 6

useful in treating a wide variety of infections

Question 7

empiric therapy

Answer 7

treatment of an infection before a specific culture information has been reported or obtained

Question 8

definitive therapy

Answer 8

therapy tailored to treat organism identified with cultures

Question 9

prophylactic therapy

Answer 9

prevent infection

Question 10

therapeutic response

Answer 10

decrease in specific signs and symptoms of infection are noted (fever, elevated WBC count, redness, inflammation, drainage, pain)

Question 11

subtherapeutic response

Answer 11

signs and symptoms of infection don’t imporve

Question 12

what are common antibiotics that give allergic reactions

Answer 12

penicillins and sulfonamides

Question 13

what is a severe reaction

Answer 13

difficulty breathing; significant rash, hives, or skin reaction; GI intolerance; anaphylaxis

Question 14

signs and symptoms of c. diff

Answer 14

water diarrhea, abdominal cramps, pain/tenderness, fever, pus/mucus in stool, nausea, dehydration

Question 15

what are some nursing implications for antibiotics?

Answer 15

assess all lab results, medications, allergies, and patient profile; administer on a schedule and take full course