Pharmacology (Nursing) Antibiotics
Questions with Answers for Ease of
Revision.
What are antibiotics?
✓✓ Antibiotics are medicines used to treat bacterial infections by killing bacteria or preventing
their growth.
Why are antibiotics not effective against viral infections?
✓✓ Viruses do not have the cellular structures that antibiotics target, making antibiotics
ineffective against them.
What is the difference between bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibiotics?
✓✓ Bactericidal antibiotics kill bacteria, while bacteriostatic antibiotics stop bacterial growth,
allowing the immune system to eliminate them.
What is the importance of obtaining a culture before starting antibiotic therapy?
✓✓ It helps identify the causative organism and determine the most effective antibiotic.
What is broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy?
✓✓ It involves using antibiotics that are effective against a wide range of bacteria.
What is narrow-spectrum antibiotic therapy?
✓✓ It involves using antibiotics that target specific types of bacteria.
Why should patients complete the full course of antibiotics?
✓✓ Completing the prescribed course prevents treatment failure and reduces the risk of
antibiotic resistance.
What is antibiotic resistance?
✓✓ Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria develop the ability to survive antibiotic treatment.
What is the most common cause of antibiotic resistance?
✓✓ Misuse and overuse of antibiotics.
What nursing assessment should be performed before administering an antibiotic?
✓✓ Assess for allergies, infection symptoms, previous antibiotic use, and obtain cultures if
ordered.
Why should a patient be asked about penicillin allergy before receiving antibiotics?
✓✓ Penicillin allergy can cause severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis.
1
, What is the first nursing action if a patient develops difficulty breathing after receiving an
antibiotic?
✓✓ Stop the antibiotic immediately and notify the healthcare provider while initiating
emergency measures.
Why should renal function be monitored during antibiotic therapy?
✓✓ Many antibiotics are excreted by the kidneys, and impaired renal function can increase
toxicity.
Why should liver function be monitored in patients taking certain antibiotics?
✓✓ Some antibiotics are metabolized by the liver and may cause liver damage.
What is superinfection?
✓✓ A new infection that develops after normal body flora are destroyed by antibiotic therapy.
What is a common sign of oral candidiasis caused by antibiotic therapy?
✓✓ White patches on the tongue or inside the mouth.
Why can prolonged antibiotic use lead to diarrhea?
✓✓ Antibiotics disrupt normal intestinal bacteria, allowing harmful organisms to multiply.
What organism commonly causes antibiotic-associated colitis?
✓✓ Clostridioides difficile infection.
Why should alcohol be avoided with certain antibiotics?
✓✓ Alcohol may increase side effects or produce severe reactions with some antibiotics.
Why should patients increase fluid intake during antibiotic therapy when appropriate?
✓✓ Adequate hydration helps support kidney function and promotes drug elimination.
What is the main action of penicillins?
✓✓ They interfere with bacterial cell wall synthesis.
What is a common adverse effect of penicillin antibiotics?
✓✓ Allergic reactions.
What is the mechanism of action of cephalosporins?
✓✓ They inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis.
Why should caution be used when giving cephalosporins to patients allergic to penicillin?
✓✓ Cross-sensitivity may occur in some patients.
What is the mechanism of action of macrolide antibiotics?
✓✓ They inhibit bacterial protein synthesis.
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Questions with Answers for Ease of
Revision.
What are antibiotics?
✓✓ Antibiotics are medicines used to treat bacterial infections by killing bacteria or preventing
their growth.
Why are antibiotics not effective against viral infections?
✓✓ Viruses do not have the cellular structures that antibiotics target, making antibiotics
ineffective against them.
What is the difference between bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibiotics?
✓✓ Bactericidal antibiotics kill bacteria, while bacteriostatic antibiotics stop bacterial growth,
allowing the immune system to eliminate them.
What is the importance of obtaining a culture before starting antibiotic therapy?
✓✓ It helps identify the causative organism and determine the most effective antibiotic.
What is broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy?
✓✓ It involves using antibiotics that are effective against a wide range of bacteria.
What is narrow-spectrum antibiotic therapy?
✓✓ It involves using antibiotics that target specific types of bacteria.
Why should patients complete the full course of antibiotics?
✓✓ Completing the prescribed course prevents treatment failure and reduces the risk of
antibiotic resistance.
What is antibiotic resistance?
✓✓ Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria develop the ability to survive antibiotic treatment.
What is the most common cause of antibiotic resistance?
✓✓ Misuse and overuse of antibiotics.
What nursing assessment should be performed before administering an antibiotic?
✓✓ Assess for allergies, infection symptoms, previous antibiotic use, and obtain cultures if
ordered.
Why should a patient be asked about penicillin allergy before receiving antibiotics?
✓✓ Penicillin allergy can cause severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis.
1
, What is the first nursing action if a patient develops difficulty breathing after receiving an
antibiotic?
✓✓ Stop the antibiotic immediately and notify the healthcare provider while initiating
emergency measures.
Why should renal function be monitored during antibiotic therapy?
✓✓ Many antibiotics are excreted by the kidneys, and impaired renal function can increase
toxicity.
Why should liver function be monitored in patients taking certain antibiotics?
✓✓ Some antibiotics are metabolized by the liver and may cause liver damage.
What is superinfection?
✓✓ A new infection that develops after normal body flora are destroyed by antibiotic therapy.
What is a common sign of oral candidiasis caused by antibiotic therapy?
✓✓ White patches on the tongue or inside the mouth.
Why can prolonged antibiotic use lead to diarrhea?
✓✓ Antibiotics disrupt normal intestinal bacteria, allowing harmful organisms to multiply.
What organism commonly causes antibiotic-associated colitis?
✓✓ Clostridioides difficile infection.
Why should alcohol be avoided with certain antibiotics?
✓✓ Alcohol may increase side effects or produce severe reactions with some antibiotics.
Why should patients increase fluid intake during antibiotic therapy when appropriate?
✓✓ Adequate hydration helps support kidney function and promotes drug elimination.
What is the main action of penicillins?
✓✓ They interfere with bacterial cell wall synthesis.
What is a common adverse effect of penicillin antibiotics?
✓✓ Allergic reactions.
What is the mechanism of action of cephalosporins?
✓✓ They inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis.
Why should caution be used when giving cephalosporins to patients allergic to penicillin?
✓✓ Cross-sensitivity may occur in some patients.
What is the mechanism of action of macrolide antibiotics?
✓✓ They inhibit bacterial protein synthesis.
2
