McKenna's Pharmacology for Nursing, 2e

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C H A P T E R 8  Anti-infective agents

C H E C K Y O U R U N D E R S T A N D I N G

5. Superinfections can occur when anti-infective agents destroy the normal flora of the body. Candida infections are commonly associated with antibiotic use. A person with this type of superinfection would exhibit: a. difficulty breathing. b. vaginal discharge or white patches in the mouth. c. elevated blood urea nitrogen. d. dark lesions on the skin. 6. An example of an anti-infective used as a means of prophylaxis would be: a. amoxicillin used for tonsillitis. b. penicillin used to treat an abscess. c. an antibiotic used before dental surgery. d. norfloxacin used for a bladder infection. 7. A broad-spectrum antibiotic would be the drug of choice when: a. the person has many known allergies. b. one is waiting for culture and sensitivity results. c. the infection is caused by one specific bacterium. d. treatment is being given for an upper respiratory infection of unknown cause. MULTIPLE RESPONSE Select all that apply. 1. Bacterial resistance to an anti-infective could be the result of which of the following? a. natural or intrinsic properties of the bacteria b. changes in cellular permeability or cellular transport systems c. the production of chemicals that antagonise the drug d. initial exposure to the anti-infective e. combination of too many antibiotics for one infection f. narrow spectrum of activity 2. Anti-infective drugs destroy cells that have invaded the body. However, they do not specifically destroy only the cell of the invader, and because of this, many adverse effects can be anticipated when an anti-infective is used. Which of the following adverse effects are often associated with anti-infective use? a. superinfections

Answers to the questions in this chapter can be found in Appendix A at the back of this book.

MULTIPLE CHOICE Select the best answer to the following. 1. The spectrum of activity of an anti-infective indicates: a. the acidity of the environment in which they are most effective. b. the cell membrane type that the anti-infective affects. c. the anti-infective’s effectiveness against different invading organisms. d. the resistance factor that bacteria have developed to this anti-infective. 2. The emergence of resistant strains of microbes is a serious public health problem. Healthcare providers can work to prevent the emergence of resistant strains by: a. encouraging the person to stop the antibiotic as soon as the symptoms are resolved to prevent overexposure to the drug. b. encouraging the use of antibiotics when people feel they will help. c. limiting the use of antimicrobial agents to the treatment of specific pathogens known to be sensitive to the drug being used. d. using the most recent powerful drug available to treat an infection to ensure eradication of the microbe. 3. Sensitivity testing of a culture shows: a. drugs that are capable of controlling that particular microorganism. b. the person’s potential for allergic reactions to a drug. c. the offending microorganism. d. an immune reaction to the infecting organism. 4. Combination therapy is often used in treating infections. An important consideration for using combination therapy would be that: a. it is cheaper to use two drugs in one tablet than one drug alone. b. most infections are caused by multiple organisms. c. the combination of drugs can delay the emergence of resistant strains. d. combining anti-infectives will prevent adverse effects from occurring.

b. hypotension c. renal toxicity d. diarrhoea e. loss of hearing f. constipation