A patient is taking nystatin oral lozenges to treat an oral candidiasis infection resulting from inhaled corticosteroid therapy for asthma. Which instruction by the nurse is appropriate?

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: Carbapenems, like imipenem, are broad-spectrum antibiotics reserved for severe, multidrug-resistant infections. They are not first-line for uncomplicated urinary tract infections due to their potency and risk of promoting resistance. Sulfonamides are more commonly used for UTIs due to their efficacy and specificity.

Choice B reason: Sulfonamides, like trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, are especially useful for urinary tract infections. They inhibit bacterial folate synthesis, targeting pathogens like Escherichia coli, a common UTI cause. Their concentration in urine enhances efficacy, making them a first-line choice for uncomplicated UTIs in susceptible organisms.

Choice C reason: Tetracyclines, like doxycycline, are not typically used for urinary tract infections. They are effective for other infections, like chlamydia, but their spectrum and renal clearance make them less ideal for common UTI pathogens like E. coli compared to sulfonamides or nitrofurantoin.

Choice D reason: Macrolides, like erythromycin, are used for respiratory or soft tissue infections, not primarily for urinary tract infections. They have limited activity against common UTI pathogens like E. coli and do not concentrate effectively in urine, making sulfonamides a more appropriate choice.