Week 10 Case Study

Question 1

Mr U is a 58-year-old man admitted to your ward with bilateral pneumonia. He has been commenced on intravenous amoxicillin 6 hourly and gentamicin 8 hourly.

Answer 1

Questions and answers will follow

Question 2

To what groups does each of these antibiotics belong, and how do they act on the causative organism?

Answer 2

Amoxicillin belongs to the Penicillin group of drugs, which are bacteriostatic, however at high concentrates can be bactericidal

Gentamycin belongs to aminoglycoside group of drugs, which are drugs that disrupt the nucleic acid synthesis or DNA synthesis of the pathogenic microorganism

Question 3

What adverse effects will you monitor Mr U for?

Answer 3

Penicillin - nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, vaginal puritis, oral and or vaginal thrush, headache, swollen/ black hairy tongue

Gentamycin - abdominal cramps or pain, agitation, back pain, black/ tarry stools, blood in urine, blurred or double vision, tingling/ burning sensations, chills, Diuresis, confusion, chest pain, respiratory distress, ocular pain, hallucinations, hearing loss, headache