A client is hospitalized for pneumonia and started on intravenous ceftriaxone. After several days of antibiotic therapy, the healthcare team also initiates probiotics as part of the client's treatment plan. The nurse knows that probiotics are indicated for which of the following reasons.
To prevent inflammatory bowel disease
To prevent antibiotic induced constipation
To prevent antibiotic associated diarrhea
To provide secondary antibiotic coverage of the patient's pneumonia
The Correct Answer is C
A. To prevent inflammatory bowel disease.: Probiotics may help maintain gut health but are not used as a treatment or preventive measure for inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Their effect in IBD is supportive rather than preventive.
B. To prevent antibiotic induced constipation.: Antibiotics typically cause diarrhea, not constipation, by disrupting normal intestinal flora. Probiotics restore beneficial bacteria in the gut, so their use is aimed at preventing diarrhea rather than managing constipation.
C. To prevent antibiotic associated diarrhea.: Probiotics help replenish healthy gut microorganisms that antibiotics often destroy, maintaining intestinal balance and preventing diarrhea. This reduces the risk of Clostridioides difficile infection and improves overall gastrointestinal tolerance to antibiotic therapy.
D. To provide secondary antibiotic coverage of the patient's pneumonia.: Probiotics are not antibiotics and have no antimicrobial activity against pathogens causing pneumonia. Their purpose is to support gastrointestinal health, not to serve as adjunct antimicrobial therapy.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Administer cefazolin as ordered, as cross-reactivity is negligible.: Cefazolin is a first-generation cephalosporin with a higher potential for cross-allergy. Administering it without clarification places the client at significant risk for another anaphylactic reaction.
B. Hold cefazolin and notify the provider immediately.: The nurse should withhold cefazolin and promptly inform the healthcare provider. Cefazolin shares a similar beta-lactam structure with penicillin, and using it could trigger a severe hypersensitivity response requiring emergency treatment.
C. Administer cefazolin with premedication of antihistamines and corticosteroids.: Premedicating does not eliminate the risk of a true IgE-mediated anaphylactic reaction. Such an approach is unsafe as the reaction could still be life-threatening.
D. Administer cefazolin slowly with close monitoring for allergic reactions.: Giving the drug slowly does not prevent an anaphylactic response and may delay recognition of symptoms. The safest nursing action is to hold the medication entirely until an alternative antibiotic is prescribed by the healthcare provider.
Correct Answer is ["B","C","D"]
Explanation
A. Tetracyclines.: Tetracyclines are broad-spectrum antibiotics that inhibit bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit. They do not contain a beta-lactam ring and therefore are not classified as beta-lactam antibiotics.
B. Carbapenems.: Carbapenems, such as imipenem and meropenem, are beta-lactam antibiotics with a broad spectrum of activity. They work by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis and are often reserved for severe or resistant infections.
C. Penicillins.: Penicillins are the prototype beta-lactam antibiotics. Their beta-lactam ring structure disrupts bacterial cell wall synthesis, leading to cell lysis and death, making them effective against many gram-positive organisms.
D. Cephalosporins.: Cephalosporins also contain a beta-lactam ring and act by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis. They are structurally related to penicillins and are grouped into generations based on their antimicrobial coverage.
E. Vancomycin.: Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic that inhibits cell wall synthesis but does not have a beta-lactam ring. It is used for serious infections caused by gram-positive organisms, including MRSA, and is not part of the beta-lactam antibiotic class.
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