If the nurse has to clean up a spill of antineoplastic drug, which of the following personal protective equipment should be worn?

Choice A rationale:

Bacteriostatic. Sulfonamides are a class of antibiotics that work primarily as bacteriostatic agents. They inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacteria by blocking the synthesis of folic acid, which is essential for bacterial DNA and RNA synthesis. By slowing down bacterial growth, sulfonamides give the body's immune system a chance to eliminate the bacteria. Bacteriostatic antibiotics do not directly kill bacteria but rather impede their ability to multiply. This action is a key characteristic of sulfonamides.

Choice B rationale:

Bactericidal. Sulfonamides are not primarily bactericidal. Bactericidal antibiotics directly kill bacteria by disrupting their cell walls, protein synthesis, or other essential processes. Sulfonamides do not have this direct killing effect. They work by inhibiting folic acid synthesis and, as a result, slowing down bacterial growth. While this can eventually lead to bacterial death, the primary action of sulfonamides is bacteriostatic.

Choice C rationale:

Promotor of folic acid activity. This choice is not accurate. Sulfonamides do not promote folic acid activity; rather, they inhibit it. Sulfonamides are structural analogs of para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), a precursor necessary for folic acid synthesis in bacteria. By competing with PABA, sulfonamides disrupt folic acid production in bacteria, ultimately leading to growth inhibition. Therefore, they are not promoters of folic acid activity.

Choice D rationale:

Bacterial cell metabolizer. Sulfonamides do not metabolize bacterial cells. Instead, they interfere with bacterial metabolism by blocking the synthesis of folic acid. This disruption affects the DNA and RNA synthesis of bacteria, which rely on folic acid derivatives. The primary action of sulfonamides is to inhibit this metabolic pathway, not to metabolize bacterial cells.

Choice A rationale:

Alkylating agents. Alkylating agents are not cell cycle-specific. These agents work by directly binding to DNA and interfering with the cell's ability to replicate and divide. Their action is not limited to a specific phase of the cell cycle, making them non-cell cycle-specific agents. Alkylating agents are often used in cancer chemotherapy to prevent cell division and growth.

Choice C rationale:

Antineoplastic antibiotics. Antineoplastic antibiotics are not cell cycle-specific either. These drugs, such as doxorubicin and bleomycin, work by disrupting DNA and RNA synthesis and are used to treat various types of cancer. However, they do not specifically target cells in a particular phase of the cell cycle.

Choice D rationale:

Retinoids. Retinoids are not cell cycle-specific antineoplastic agents. Retinoids are compounds related to vitamin A and are used for various medical purposes, including some cancer treatments. However, their mechanism of action is not tied to a specific phase of the cell cycle, making them non-cell cycle-specific.

Choice B rationale:

Plant alkaloids. Plant alkaloids, such as vinca alkaloids (vincristine and vinblastine) and taxanes (paclitaxel), are considered cell cycle-specific antineoplastic drugs. These agents interfere with microtubule function, which is critical during mitosis (cell division). By disrupting microtubules, they specifically target rapidly dividing cancer cells during the M phase of the cell cycle. This selectivity for actively dividing cells makes plant alkaloids cell cycle-specific antineoplastic drugs.