The nurse is preparing to educate a patient who has just been prescribed a sulfonamide.
Which statements should be included in the teaching plan?

Choice A rationale:

Administering the antibiotic dose before obtaining the cultures could potentially affect the results of the cultures. Antibiotics are designed to kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria, so administering them before obtaining the cultures could lead to false negatives. This could lead to incorrect or delayed diagnosis and treatment.

Choice B rationale:

While obtaining the urine culture before administering the antibiotic dose is a good step, it should not be done before obtaining the blood culture. Blood cultures are usually obtained before urine cultures because they can help identify bacteria or fungi in the blood. This can be crucial in diagnosing conditions like sepsis. Furthermore, administering the antibiotic dose before obtaining the blood culture could affect the results of the culture.

Choice C rationale:

Obtaining the blood culture before administering the antibiotic dose is a good step, but the urine culture should also be obtained before the antibiotic dose is administered. Administering the antibiotic dose before obtaining all necessary cultures could affect the results of the cultures and lead to incorrect or delayed diagnosis and treatment.

Choice D rationale:

This is the correct sequence of actions. The nurse should first obtain both blood and urine cultures before administering the antibiotic dose. This is because the antibiotic could potentially kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria, which could affect the results of the cultures. By obtaining the cultures first, the healthcare team can ensure they are getting accurate results that have not been influenced by the antibiotics. This can lead to a more accurate diagnosis and more effective treatment plan.

Choice A rationale:

Shortness of breath is a common symptom of a hypersensitivity reaction. This occurs because the body’s immune system responds to a foreign substance, known as an antigen, by producing specific antibodies. This immune response can cause inflammation and swelling in various parts of the body, including the airways, leading to shortness of breath.

Choice B rationale:

A black hairy tongue is not typically associated with a hypersensitivity reaction. It is a condition that causes the tongue to appear black and hairy, and it’s usually caused by an overgrowth of bacteria or yeast on the tongue. It’s not related to allergies or hypersensitivity reactions.

Choice C rationale:

Itching is another common symptom of a hypersensitivity reaction. When the body encounters an antigen, it triggers an immune response that releases chemicals like histamine. Histamine can cause itching, among other symptoms.

Choice D rationale:

Swelling of the tongue can be a symptom of a severe hypersensitivity reaction known as anaphylaxis. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. The swelling is caused by inflammation in response to an antigen.

Choice E rationale:

Wheezing is a symptom of a hypersensitivity reaction, specifically type I hypersensitivity. This type of reaction includes allergic disorders, which affect the lungs among other parts of the body. The immune response to an antigen can cause the airways to narrow and produce a wheezing sound.