Antibiotics Cheat Sheet | Top Nursing Pharmacology Guide

ANTIBIOTICS CHEAT
SHEET MOST
COMMONLY USED
DRUGS
PHARMACOLOGY IN
NURSING CHEAT SHEET

, Antibiotics (most commonly used)

Class Drug Uses Side Effects Considerations


Resp. infections, UTI’s, Do not take with antivirals
Carbapenems
Imipenem (Primaxin) blood/ skin/ bone GI upset, rash, itching Do not use in CNS
End in ‘penem’
infections disorders


Cephalosporins May cause kidney
Resp., skin, bone, and GI upset, dark urine,
Start with Cephalexin (Keflex) problems, especially if
ear infections, UTI’s rash, oral candidiasis
‘cef/ceph’ taken with metformin


May cause peripheral
Fluroquinolones Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) UTI’s, resp./ skin GI upset, dizziness,
neuropathy, avoid
Levofloxacin infections, sinusitis, blurred vision,
End in ‘floxacin’ NSAIDs, caffeine, and
(Levaquin) bronchitis photosensitivity
warfarin

Monitor kidneys, avoid
Glycopeptides Vancomycin MRSA, C-diff, resp. Dizziness, chills, loop diuretics, require
(Vancocin) infections, septicemia thrombophlebitis peak and trough levels,
^fluid intake

Azithromycin May interact with
Resp./ ear infections, Gi upset,
Macrolides (Zithromax) anticoagulants, digoxin,
STI’s, UTI’s, acne, photosensitivity,
End in ‘romycin’ Erythromycin and antacids. Avoid fruit
tonsilitis dizziness
(E-mycin) juice

Severe blood, urinary,
Monitor for seizures,
Monobactams Aztreonam lung, GI upset, HA, blurred
superinfection and renal
End in ‘actam’ (Azactam) skin, and stomach vision
impairment
infections


Avoid alcohol or items
containing propylene
Infections of the skin Gi upset, HA, metallic glycol can cause
Nitroimidazoles Metronidazole and oral mucosa, taste in mouth, can disulfiram-like reaction,
End in ‘idazole’ (Flagyl) bacterial cause dark urine monitor for signs of
vaginosis while using peripheral neuropathy
and seizure-like
activity


Monitor BP/HR. Can
Diarrhea, HA,
Oxazolidinones Skin infections, cause peripheral
Linezolid (Zyvox) dizziness, rash,
End in ‘zolid’ pneumonia neuropathy and visual
thrombocytopenia
disturbances



Decreases effectiveness
Penicillin’s of contraceptives, avoid
Skin, resp. infections, GI upset, dizziness,
End in ‘cillin’ Amoxicillin (Amoxil) fruit juice. Increased
UTI’s HA, rash
bleeding with
anticoagulants




Trimethoprim/ GI upset, vertigo, Monitor for anemia/
Sulfonamides UTI’s, STI’s, otitis
sulfamethoxazole depression, neutropenia, may cause
‘Sulfa drugs’ media, pneumonia
(Bactrim) photosensitivity bleeding/ bruising


Take on empty stomach,
Tetracyclines Doxycycline UTI’s, STI’s, acne, resp./ stay upright, may cause
End in ‘cycline’ Gi upset, HA, rash
(Vibramycin) intestinal infections candida infection or
blisters