Successful treatment with bacteriostatic antibiotics depends upon what factor?
A. Stopping drug therapy when symptoms have subsided
B. The nature of the virus being treated
C. Adequate duration of drug therapy
D. Using broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs to treat viral infections correct answers C. Adequate
duration of drug therapy
Successful treatment with bacteriostatic antibiotics depends on the ability of the host's immune
system to eliminate the inhibited bacteria and an adequate duration of drug therapy. Stopping an
antibiotic prematurely can result in rapid resumption of bacterial growth. Antibiotics are not used
to treat viral infections.
A sputum sample of a postsurgical client with coarse crackles audible in the lungs has been sent
for culture and sensitivity testing. What response should the nurse provide when the client asks
why the sample needed to be analyzed?
A. ''It will show us how long you've had the infection.''
B. ''It will help in determining where the microorganism came from.''
C. ''It will identify what drug will best kill this microorganism.''
D. ''It will help us to stop the infection from spreading to others.'' correct answers C. ''It will
identify what drug will best kill this microorganism.''
Once a specific microorganism is identified by laboratory culture, it is important to determine
susceptibility, which is the vulnerability of the bacteria to the effects of an antibiotic. None of the
other options are associated with identifying the most effective antibiotic therapy.
When discussing viruses with a client, the nurse should include what information?
A. Viruses are often described by the disorders and symptoms they produce.
B. Viruses have their origin in an inflammatory process that causes cellular mutation.
, C. Viruses and bacterial infections are generally treated similarly.
D. Viral infections are seldom serious because of their self-limiting nature. correct answers A.
Viruses are often described by the disorders and symptoms they produce.
Viruses are intracellular parasites that survive only in living tissues. They are officially classified
according to their structure but are more commonly described according to origin and the
disorders or symptoms they produce. They are treated differently from bacteria. Many viral
illnesses are serious and/or chronic.
A nurse is asked to explain the difference between community-acquired infections and hospital-
acquired infections. What response best describes the difference?
A. ''Hospital-acquired infections are typically less severe and easier to treat because they occur in
the presence of trained medical staff.''
B. ''Community-acquired infections are usually less severe and easier to treat since hospital-
acquired infections often involve drug-resistant microorganisms.''
C. ''There is no epidemiologic difference between the infection types; they are simply
categorized as community-acquired or hospital-acquired.''
D. ''Only drug-resistant strains of staphylococci and Pseudomonas are categorized as hospital-
acquired infections.'' correct answers B. ''Community-acquired infections are usually less severe
and easier to treat since hospital-acquired infections often involve drug-resistant
microorganisms.''
Infections are often categorized as community-acquired or hospital-acquired. Because the
microbial environments differ, the two types of infections often have different causes and require
different antimicrobial treatment. Generally, hospital-acquired infections are more severe and
difficult to manage because they often result from drug-resistant microorganisms and occur in
people whose immunity is impaired. A wide variety of organisms can lead to hospital-acquired
infections.
The nurse is educating a client who is recovering from pneumonia about ways to fight new
infection. What education can the nurse provide to this client?
A. Take prophylactic antibiotics.
B. If a new infection is suspected, use any antibiotic remaining from pneumonia treatment.