A client with tetanus is receiving antibiotic therapy. Which statement made by the client indicates a need for further education?

Choice A rationale:

The statement "I should complete the full course of antibiotics as prescribed" is correct. Completing the full course of antibiotics is essential to ensure that all the bacteria causing the infection are eradicated. Stopping antibiotics prematurely may lead to antibiotic resistance and treatment failure.

Choice B rationale:

The statement "The antibiotics will kill the bacteria causing the disease" is correct. Antibiotics are prescribed to kill the bacteria responsible for causing the infection, including tetanus. This is essential in controlling the spread and severity of the disease.

Choice C rationale:

The statement "Antibiotics will help neutralize the toxin in my blood" is incorrect. Antibiotics are effective against bacteria but do not neutralize the toxin produced by the tetanus bacteria. To manage the symptoms of tetanus, other supportive treatments like tetanus antitoxin and muscle relaxants are used to counteract the toxin's effects.

Choice D rationale:

The statement "Penicillin G has a broader spectrum of activity than metronidazole" is irrelevant to the client's tetanus treatment. While it is true that different antibiotics have different spectrums of activity, this information is not relevant to the client's current condition or treatment.

Choice A rationale:

Tetanus is not commonly transmitted from person to person. Instead, it is usually acquired through the introduction of the Clostridium tetani bacterium into a wound, where it can produce the neurotoxin tetanospasmin.

Choice B rationale:

Tetanus is not effectively treated with antibiotics alone. Antibiotics can help control the infection caused by Clostridium tetani, but the primary treatment involves providing tetanus antitoxin to neutralize the neurotoxin already present in the body.

Choice C rationale:

Booster doses of tetanus vaccine are not recommended every 5 years. The standard recommendation is to receive a tetanus booster every 10 years to maintain protection against the disease.