A nurse is caring for a client who was exposed to anthrax.
Which of the following antibiotics should the nurse plan to administer?

Choice A rationale:

Fluconazole Fluconazole is an antifungal medication used to treat and prevent fungal infections. It works by stopping the growth of certain types of fungus. However, it is not effective against bacterial infections such as anthrax.

Choice B rationale:

Tobramycin Tobramycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic used to treat various types of bacterial infections, particularly Gramnegative infections. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. However, it is not typically used to treat anthrax.

Choice C rationale:

Ciprofloxacin Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic used for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections. This includes bone and joint infections, intra-abdominal infections, certain type of infectious diarrhea, respiratory tract infections, skin infections, typhoid fever, and urinary tract infections, among others. For the treatment of anthrax, ciprofloxacin is one of the antibiotics that could be used. It works by killing the anthrax or by stopping the anthrax from growing. When the anthrax can’t grow anymore, it dies.

Choice D rationale:

Vancomycin Vancomycin is an antibiotic used to treat a number of bacterial infections. It is recommended intravenously as a treatment for complicated skin infections, bloodstream infections, endocarditis, bone and joint infections, and meningitis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. However, it is not typically used to treat anthrax.

Choice A rationale:

Shortness of breath is a common symptom of a hypersensitivity reaction. This occurs because the body’s immune system responds to a foreign substance, known as an antigen, by producing specific antibodies. This immune response can cause inflammation and swelling in various parts of the body, including the airways, leading to shortness of breath.

Choice B rationale:

A black hairy tongue is not typically associated with a hypersensitivity reaction. It is a condition that causes the tongue to appear black and hairy, and it’s usually caused by an overgrowth of bacteria or yeast on the tongue. It’s not related to allergies or hypersensitivity reactions.

Choice C rationale:

Itching is another common symptom of a hypersensitivity reaction. When the body encounters an antigen, it triggers an immune response that releases chemicals like histamine. Histamine can cause itching, among other symptoms.

Choice D rationale:

Swelling of the tongue can be a symptom of a severe hypersensitivity reaction known as anaphylaxis. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. The swelling is caused by inflammation in response to an antigen.

Choice E rationale:

Wheezing is a symptom of a hypersensitivity reaction, specifically type I hypersensitivity. This type of reaction includes allergic disorders, which affect the lungs among other parts of the body. The immune response to an antigen can cause the airways to narrow and produce a wheezing sound.