A female client with multiple sclerosis reports having less fatigue and improved memory since she began using the herbal supplement, ginkgo biloba. Which information is most important for the nurse to include in the teaching plan for this client?

Choice D reason: Probenecid is a uricosuric drug that increases the excretion of uric acid in the urine by inhibiting its reabsorption in the kidneys. Uric acid is a waste product that results from the breakdown of purines, which are found in certain foods and drinks, such as meat, seafood, beer, and wine. Probenecid is used to treat gout, a type of arthritis that occurs when uric acid crystals accumulate in the joints and cause inflammation, pain, swelling, and stiffness. By lowering uric acid levels in the blood, probenecid can prevent gout attacks and reduce joint damage.

Choice A reason: Increasing the strength of the urine stream is not a purpose of probenecid, but rather a possible effect of some medications that relax or dilate the urinary tract muscles, such as alpha-blockers or anticholinergics. These medications can help to improve urinary flow and reduce symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or enlarged prostate gland, which can cause difficulty urinating or weak urine stream.

Choice B reason: Preventing the formation of kidney stones is not a purpose of probenecid, but rather a potential benefit of some medications that lower calcium or oxalate levels in the urine, such as thiazide diuretics or potassium citrate. These medications can help to prevent calcium oxalate stones, which are one of the most common types of kidney stones. Kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals and salts that form in the kidneys and can cause severe pain, nausea, vomiting, and blood in the urine.

Choice C reason: Decreasing pain and burning during urination is not a purpose of probenecid, but rather a desired outcome of some medications that treat urinary tract infections (UTIs), such as antibiotics or phenazopyridine. These medications can help to eliminate the bacteria that cause UTIs and relieve the discomfort and inflammation that they cause. UTIs are infections that affect the bladder, urethra, or kidneys and can cause frequent or urgent urination, pain or burning during urination, cloudy or foul-smelling urine, and fever.

Choice A reason: Monitoring for signs of sodium and fluid retention is not relevant to this situation, as broad spectrum antibiotics do not affect sodium or fluid balance. Sodium and fluid retention may be caused by other conditions such as heart failure, kidney disease, or liver disease.

Choice B reason: Obtaining wound and blood specimens for culture and sensitivity is most important before administering the first dose of a broad spectrum antibiotic, as this can help identify the specific type and strain of bacteria causing the infection and determine which antibiotic is most effective against it. Broad spectrum antibiotics are effective against a wide range of bacteria, but they may also kill beneficial bacteria and increase the risk of resistance or superinfection.

Choice C reason: Obtaining a complete blood count and serum electrolytes is not necessary before administering the first dose of a broad spectrum antibiotic, as these tests do not provide information about the type or severity of infection. A complete blood count may show an elevated white blood cell count or other changes in response to infection, but it does not identify the causative organism. Serum electrolytes may show abnormalities due to dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, or other factors, but they do not indicate infection.

Choice D reason: Performing irrigation and topical antibiotic application to wound area is not sufficient before administering the first dose of a broad spectrum antibiotic, as this may not reach all sites of infection or eradicate all bacteria. Irrigation and topical antibiotic application may help clean and prevent further contamination of wound area, but they do not replace systemic antibiotic therapy.