A patient who has started drug therapy for tuberculosis wants to know how long he will be on the medications. Which response by the nurse is correct?

Drug therapy will last until the symptoms have stopped.

You will be on this drug therapy for the rest of your life.

You should expect to take these drugs for 6 to 9 months or more.

Drug therapy will continue until the tuberculosis develops resistance.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Choice A reason: Tuberculosis therapy does not stop when symptoms resolve, as residual bacteria may persist, leading to relapse. Standard regimens (e.g., isoniazid, rifampin) last 6-9 months to ensure complete eradication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, guided by sputum cultures and imaging, not just symptom cessation.

Choice B reason: Lifelong tuberculosis therapy is not typical for active disease. Standard treatment lasts 6-9 months for drug-susceptible tuberculosis, achieving cure in most cases. Lifelong therapy may apply to certain chronic infections, but for tuberculosis, finite regimens are effective, making this statement incorrect.

Choice C reason: Standard treatment for active tuberculosis involves a 6- to 9-month regimen of first-line drugs (isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, pyrazinamide). This duration ensures complete bacterial eradication, preventing relapse or resistance. Longer durations may be needed for resistant strains or extrapulmonary disease, aligning with clinical guidelines.

Choice D reason: Therapy does not continue until resistance develops, as this would indicate treatment failure. The goal is to eradicate Mycobacterium tuberculosis before resistance emerges, using combination therapy for 6-9 months. Continuing until resistance occurs is counterproductive and increases the risk of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A reason: Pulmonary problems are not a primary concern with statins. Statins inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, lowering cholesterol, with main side effects being myopathy and hepatotoxicity. Pulmonary issues are more associated with drugs like amiodarone, not statins, which primarily affect liver and muscle tissue.

Choice B reason: Neutropenia is not a common side effect of statins. These drugs lower cholesterol by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, with risks of myopathy or liver dysfunction. Hematologic effects like neutropenia are more linked to chemotherapy or immunosuppressants, not statins, making this an incorrect monitoring priority.

Choice C reason: Liver dysfunction is a critical side effect to monitor with statins. They can elevate liver enzymes (ALT, AST) by stressing hepatocytes during cholesterol synthesis inhibition. Regular liver function tests are needed to detect hepatotoxicity early, preventing severe liver damage in patients on long-term statin therapy.

Choice D reason: Vitamin C deficiency is not associated with statins. Statins affect cholesterol synthesis, not vitamin metabolism. Deficiency would result from dietary issues, not statin use. Monitoring for myopathy or liver dysfunction is more relevant due to statins’ hepatic metabolism and muscle effects.

A. Metronidazole B. Vancomycin C. Tobramycin D. Ciprofloxacin

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason: Metronidazole is effective against anaerobic bacteria and protozoa, not gram-positive organisms like MRSA. It targets microbial DNA but lacks activity against Staphylococcus aureus, making it inappropriate for treating MRSA infections, which require antibiotics with specific gram-positive coverage.

Choice B reason: Vancomycin is a first-line treatment for MRSA infections. It inhibits cell wall synthesis by binding to peptidoglycan precursors, effective against gram-positive bacteria like MRSA. Its efficacy in multidrug-resistant infections makes it the preferred choice for serious infections like pressure ulcers in hospitalized patients.

Choice C reason: Tobramycin, an aminoglycoside, targets gram-negative bacteria and is not effective against MRSA, a gram-positive organism. Its spectrum includes Pseudomonas but not resistant Staphylococcus, making it unsuitable for treating MRSA pressure ulcers, which require vancomycin or similar agents.

Choice D reason: Ciprofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone, has some activity against gram-positive bacteria but is not a first-line choice for MRSA due to variable resistance. Vancomycin is more reliable for multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, especially in serious infections like pressure ulcers, making this an incorrect choice.

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A patient who has started drug therapy for tuberculosis wants to know how long he will be on the medications. Which response by the nurse is correct?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

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