Antimicrobials Flashcards
What is a broad-spectrum antibiotic?
An antibiotic that works against many types of bacteria.
What is a narrow-spectrum antibiotic?
An antibiotic that targets specific bacteria.
What does therapeutic index mean?
The range between a safe dose and a toxic dose of a drug.
What are peak and trough levels?
Peak: Highest level of drug in the blood after a dose.
Trough: Lowest level of drug before the next dose.
What is extravasation?
When IV medication leaks into the tissue and may cause damage.
How are emergency bacterial infections treated?
Start with broad-spectrum antibiotics to act quickly, then switch to a targeted antibiotic once lab results (like a wound swab) show the specific bacteria.
How do beta-lactam antibiotics work?
They stop bacteria from building their cell wall, so the bacteria burst and die.
How do aminoglycosides work?
Aminoglycosides stop bacteria from making proteins they need to survive. They attach to the bacteria’s ribosomes (protein factories) and mess up how the proteins are made, which kills the bacteria.
How does vancomycin work?
It blocks early steps in cell wall building by binding to parts of the cell wall, stopping bacteria from growing.
What should nurses check before giving beta-lactam antibiotics?
Ask about allergies.
Give Augmentin at the start of a meal to help absorption.
Watch for thrush and diarrhea.
What should nurses do when giving vancomycin?
Give it slowly to prevent Red Man Syndrome.
Monitor peak and trough levels.
Watch kidneys and hearing (can cause damage).
Use a big vein, flush line well, and check for extravasation.
Stop the drug and tell the doctor if there’s a reaction.
How does antibiotic resistance happen?
Bacteria mutate or learn how to survive drugs. Overusing or misusing antibiotics (like not finishing the full course) helps resistance spread.
How can nurses help stop antibiotic resistance?
Only give antibiotics when needed.
Educate patients to finish the full course.
Use the right antibiotic (not broad-spectrum unless necessary).
Keep up with infection control practices.
How do antiviral medications help fight viruses?
They don’t kill viruses, but they stop them from growing and spreading.
When are antivirals prescribed?
When they can shorten how long a person is sick or lower the risk of spreading the virus.
When are antivirals NOT prescribed?
For mild viral infections that usually go away on their own (like a cold).
