Pharmacology Made Easy: Infection

Question 1

How do gram positive and gram negative bacteria vary when it comes to their cell walls?

Answer 1

• Gram positive: Two layer cell wall, easy to penetrate.
• Gram negative: Three layer cell wall, more difficult to penetrate.

Question 2

Common gram positive bacteria?

Answer 2

• Streptococcus
• Staphylococcus
• Diptheria
• Listeria

Question 3

Common gram negative bacteria?

Answer 3

• Neisseria meningitidis
• Neisseria gonorrhea
• E. coli
• Salmonella

Question 4

Broad spectrum antimicrobial antibiotics drug classes?

Answer 4

• Penicillin
• Cephalosporins
• Carbapenems
• Tetracyclines
• Macrolides
• Flouroquinolones
• Sulfonamides
• Urinary tract antiseptics (nitrofuantoin)

Question 5

Narrow spectrum antimicrobial antibiotic drug classes?

Answer 5

• Monobactams
• Vancomycin (glycopeptide)
• Aminoglycosides

Question 6

A nurse is caring for a patient who was diagnosed with an ear infection. What class of antibiotic would you expect the provider to prescribe?

Answer 6

Penicillin
Used to treat ear and throat infections

Question 7

A nurse is caring for a patient who has a new diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. What class of antibiotic would you expect the provider to prescribe?

Answer 7

Third generation cephalosporins because they can cross the blood-brain barrier

Question 8

Monobactams are typically prescribed to treat?

Answer 8

Infections of the:
* Lower respiratory tract
* Abdomen
* Urinary tract
* Gynecologic

Question 9

What is a serious adverse effect of monobactams?

Answer 9

• C. diff
• Anaphylaxis

Question 10

Carbapenems are typically prescribed to treat?

Answer 10

Broad source of bacterial infections.

Question 11

Imipenem can increase risk for developing

Answer 11

Superinfection
Secondary fungal infection of mouth

Question 12

Broad spectrum antibiotics increase your risk for developing?

Answer 12

Superinfections

Question 13

What are some common superinfections caused by broad spectrum antibiotic use?

Answer 13

• C. diff
• Candida

Question 14

A patient who is taking a tetraycline medication is at increased risk for?

Answer 14

Photosensitivity

Question 15

When it comes to children and tetracycline, what is an odd adverse reaction when children under 8 take this medication?

Answer 15

It can stain their teeth as well as suppress long bone growth in infants.

Question 16

What is a rare ekg adverse effect of macrolides?

Answer 16

QT prolongation, which results in a ventricular arrhythmia, ultimately resulting in death.

Question 17

What are some potential adverse effects of macrolides, amonioglycosides, and vancomycin?

Answer 17

Ototoxicity, resulting in:
* Transient hearing loss
* Vertigo
* Tinnitus

Question 18

Vancomycin and aminoglycosides can be detrimental to this oragn, which should be monitored while the patient is taking the medication.

Answer 18

Kidneys, they are nephrotoxic.

Question 19

What is the purpose of clavulanic acid?

Answer 19

Not effective alone as an antibiotic, but is effective when coupled with a beta-lactam antibiotic (like ampicillin), to prevent the breakdown of the beta-lactam antibiotic by bacteria.

Question 20

What generation of cephalosporins are more effects against gram-negative and anaerobic bacteria?

Answer 20

The later generations are more effective at treating gram-negative and anaerobic bacteria than the first generation.

Question 21

A patient who is allergic to penicillin is being prescribed keflex to treat a skin infection. What must the nurse be weare about with the patient taking this medication?

Answer 21

Keflex is a cephalosporin type abx, which has a beta-lactam ring, closely resembling PCN, therefore the patient has a high probability of developing a severe allergic reaction to keflex.

Question 22

A patient who is taking Cefotan and coumadin is at an increased risk of what?

Answer 22

Bleeding. Cefotan increases risk for bleeding.

Question 23

Monobactams are more effective against what gram type bacteria?

Answer 23

Aerobic gram-negative bacteria because they inhibit cell wall formation.