The nurse is setting up an intravenous infusion pump to administer a dose of vancomycin [Vancocin] to a patient. What is the fastest rate at which the drug may be infused?

A. "Tetracycline inhibits protein synthesis."
Tetracycline inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the bacterial ribosomes, which are crucial for making proteins. This disruption in protein synthesis prevents bacterial growth and replication.

B. "Tetracycline blocks RNA synthesis."
Tetracycline primarily affects protein synthesis, not RNA synthesis. It binds to the 30S subunit of the bacterial ribosome and disrupts the translation process.

C. "Tetracycline degrades the bacterial cell wall."
Tetracycline does not target the bacterial cell wall. Drugs like penicillin and cephalosporins work by disrupting cell wall synthesis, but tetracycline operates differently by inhibiting protein synthesis.

D. "Tetracycline binds to magnesium ions."
Tetracycline does not specifically bind to magnesium ions. Its primary mode of action involves binding to the bacterial ribosome, as mentioned in the first correct statement.

A. "The antibiotic I have been taking doesn't work as well as it used to."
This statement shows awareness of decreased effectiveness, which can occur due to drug resistance. Bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics, leading to reduced efficacy of the medication over time.

B. "The bacteria in my body have become resilient."
This statement correctly attributes resistance to the bacteria. Resilience in this context means that bacteria have developed mechanisms to survive the effects of antibiotics, making the treatment less effective.

C. "Over time, an organism that had once been highly sensitive to an antibiotic may become less susceptible, or it may lose drug sensitivity entirely."
This statement accurately describes the concept of drug resistance. Bacteria can lose sensitivity to antibiotics, rendering the drugs ineffective against them.

D. "My body has become resistant to the antibiotic."
This statement is incorrect. It's the bacteria that develop resistance, not the patient's body. Patients don't become resistant to antibiotics; instead, bacteria evolve and adapt, making the drugs less effective against them.