A gardener needs a decongestant because of sinus problems and asks the nurse whether he should take an oral form or a nasal spray. Which of these is a benefit of orally administered decongestants?

Choice A reason: Reducing raw vegetables and fruit is not necessary with simvastatin. Dietary vitamin K may affect warfarin, but statins are unaffected by fruits or vegetables, except grapefruit, which inhibits CYP3A4, increasing simvastatin levels. A balanced diet supports cardiovascular health, making this instruction incorrect.

Choice B reason: Drug interactions are not rare with simvastatin, a statin metabolized by CYP3A4. Inhibitors like grapefruit juice or antifungals increase simvastatin levels, risking toxicity, while inducers reduce efficacy. Patients must be educated about potential interactions, making this statement incorrect and misleading for safe statin use.

Choice C reason: Reporting muscle pain immediately is critical with simvastatin, as it may indicate myopathy or rare rhabdomyolysis. Statins disrupt muscle cell membranes, causing pain or weakness. Early reporting allows monitoring of creatine kinase levels and prevents progression to severe muscle damage, ensuring patient safety.

Choice D reason: Reporting bleeding or yellow skin (jaundice) is essential, as simvastatin can cause hepatotoxicity, elevating liver enzymes, or rare bleeding due to drug interactions. Jaundice indicates liver dysfunction, and bleeding may result from interactions with anticoagulants, necessitating prompt reporting to adjust therapy or monitor liver function.

Choice E reason: Limiting fluid intake is not required with simvastatin. Fluid overload is unrelated to statins, which affect cholesterol synthesis, not fluid balance. Adequate hydration supports general health, and no evidence suggests fluid restriction is necessary, making this instruction irrelevant and potentially harmful.

Choice A reason: Disinfectants are chemical agents used on nonliving surfaces, like countertops, to kill microorganisms. They are too harsh for living tissue, unlike antiseptics, which are applied to skin or mucous membranes to reduce microbial load without causing tissue damage, making this correct.

Choice B reason: Antiseptics are not used to sterilize surgical equipment. Sterilization requires disinfectants or autoclaving to eliminate all microorganisms, including spores, on inanimate objects. Antiseptics are applied to living tissue, like skin, for microbial reduction, making this statement incorrect.

Choice C reason: Disinfectants are not used for preoperative skin preparation. Antiseptics, like chlorhexidine, are used on skin to reduce microbial load before surgery. Disinfectants are for nonliving surfaces, as they may harm tissue, making this an incorrect description of their use.

Choice D reason: Antiseptics reduce, not necessarily kill, microorganisms on living tissue. They are designed to be safe for skin or mucous membranes, unlike disinfectants, which are harsher. While antiseptics target microbes, complete killing is not guaranteed, making this statement partially inaccurate.