While instructing a patient about antibiotic therapy, the nurse explains to the patient that bacterial resistance to antibiotics can occur when: 

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.

A. Obtaining all cultures before the antibiotic is administered: While obtaining cultures is important for identifying the specific pathogen causing the infection and guiding targeted antibiotic therapy, waiting for culture results can take time. During this time, the infection can progress. Therefore, it's generally recommended to initiate broad-spectrum antibiotics first and then adjust the treatment based on culture results.

B. Delaying administration of the antibiotic until the culture results are available: Delaying antibiotics until culture results are available can be risky, as it allows the infection to progress, potentially leading to sepsis or other severe complications.

C. Administering antipyretics as soon as possible: Administering antipyretics like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help reduce fever and make the patient more comfortable. However, the primary intervention for a suspected infection is antibiotic therapy, as it targets the underlying cause of the fever.

D. Administering the antibiotic immediately: When dealing with a patient with a fever of unknown origin and a suspected infection, the priority is to start appropriate antibiotic therapy promptly. Delaying antibiotic administration can allow the infection to worsen, leading to serious complications.