A 79-year-old patient is receiving a quinolone for treatment of a complicated incision infection.
For which adverse effect associated with these drugs should the nurse monitor?

Choice A rationale:

While it’s important for the client’s family to be aware of the disease and take precautions, they do not necessarily need to take medications to prevent infection. Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease, but it typically requires close and prolonged contact to spread. Family members should be tested for TB, and if they test positive, then treatment would be necessary.

Choice B rationale:

This is the correct answer. A typical course of treatment for TB involves 6 to 9 months of consistent medication use. This is because TB bacteria die very slowly, and medications need to be taken for several months to ensure that all the bacteria are killed. If treatment is stopped too soon, some bacteria may survive and become resistant to the drugs.

Choice C rationale:

It’s not accurate to say that medications will need to be taken for the rest of the client’s life. While TB treatment is lengthy, it does not continue indefinitely. Once the full course of treatment is completed and the disease is cured, further medication is not typically necessary.

Choice D rationale:

The Mantoux test, also known as the tuberculin skin test, is used to determine whether a person has TB infection. However, the test can remain positive for a long time, even after successful treatment. Therefore, medications should not be taken until the Mantoux test is negative. Instead, the duration of treatment is determined by the healthcare provider based on various factors, including the patient’s response to the medication.

Choice A rationale:

Rifampin is an antibiotic used to treat or prevent tuberculosis (TB). However, the treatment with this medication typically lasts longer than one month. In fact, TB treatment usually involves taking several drugs for a long time.

Choice B rationale:

While it’s important to take some medications with meals to increase absorption or decrease stomach upset, rifampin should be taken at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. This helps to ensure optimal absorption of the medication.

Choice C rationale:

Insomnia is not typically listed as a common side effect of rifampin. The medication can cause a number of side effects, but these more commonly include things like upset stomach, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and changes in behavior.

Choice D rationale:

One of the known side effects of rifampin is that it can cause a red-orange discoloration of body fluids, including urine, sweat, saliva, and tears. This can be alarming to patients if they are not forewarned, so it’s important for the nurse to provide this information during discharge instructions.