Immune Stimulators - General

Question 1

Immune stimulants

Answer 1

-Energize the immune system when it needs to help fighting a specific pathogen

Question 2

Considerations for children

Answer 2

-Use with caution: monitor closely for infection, GI, renal, hematological, or CNS effects

Question 3

Considerations for adults

Answer 3

• Teach proper injection technique
• Contraindicated in pregnancy/lactation: barrier contraceptives should be used
• Some drugs may affect fertility

Question 4

Considerations for older adults

Answer 4

• Aging immune system is less effective and less responsive

- Monitor for renal and liver fx to determine dosage

Question 5

Assessment

Answer 5

• History: Allergy, contraindications and cautions

- Physical: skin lesions, weight, VS, orientation and reflexes, baseline ECG

Question 6

Nursing diagnoses

Answer 6

• Acute pain r/t CNS, GI, and flu-like effects
• Imbalanced nutrition; less than body requirements r/t flu-like symptoms
• Anxiety r/t diagnosis and drug therapy
• Deficient knowledge

Question 7

Implementation

Answer 7

• Arrange for lab tests before and periodically during treatment
• Monitor for severe reactions
• Administer drug as indicated
• Instruct female patients to use barrier contraceptives
• Pt teaching

Question 8

Evaluation

Answer 8

• Monitor patient response
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the teaching plan
• Evaluate the effectiveness of comfort measures
• Evaluate patient compliance with the regimen

Question 9

Recap

Answer 9

• Immune stimulants assist the immune system to fight specific pathogens or cancer cells; in doing so, they cause flu-like symptoms
• Interferons are used to treat various cancers and warts
• Interleukins are used to stimulate cellular immunity and inhibit tumor growth
• Colony-stimulating factors increase the production of WBC’s by working in the bone marrow