A nurse is reinforcing teaching about vancomycin with a client who has an infection. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching?

A. The herbal product must contain only one active ingredient:

This statement is not a legal requirement contained in DSHEA. Many dietary supplements contain multiple active ingredients, such as vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, and other substances. DSHEA does not mandate that dietary supplements contain only one active ingredient.

B. Effectiveness must be demonstrated by the manufacturer:

DSHEA does not require manufacturers to demonstrate the effectiveness of dietary supplements before marketing. Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, which must undergo premarket approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to demonstrate safety and efficacy, dietary supplements do not need to prove effectiveness to be marketed. Instead, manufacturers are responsible for ensuring the safety of their products and making truthful claims on product labels.

C. Dietary supplements must state that the product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease:

This statement accurately reflects a legal requirement contained in DSHEA. Under DSHEA, dietary supplement labels must include a disclaimer stating that the product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This disclaimer helps to clarify that dietary supplements are intended to support general health and well-being rather than to treat specific diseases or medical conditions.

D. Dietary supplements must be tested for safety prior to marketing:

While DSHEA requires manufacturers to ensure the safety of their dietary supplements, it does not mandate standardized premarket testing for safety by regulatory authorities. Instead, manufacturers are responsible for conducting safety assessments and ensuring that their products are safe for consumers. The FDA may take action against manufacturers if a product is found to be unsafe or if it violates regulatory requirements, but premarket testing is not a specific legal requirement under DSHEA.

A. Permanent, inheritable changes to DNA:

Mutations are alterations or changes in the DNA sequence of an organism's genome. These changes can be permanent and heritable, meaning they are passed on to offspring during reproduction. Mutations can occur spontaneously or be induced by various factors such as environmental agents, radiation, or errors in DNA replication or repair mechanisms. These changes can lead to variations in traits among individuals within a population and are essential for the process of evolution.

B. An organism that is capable of causing disease:

This definition refers to the term "pathogen." Pathogens are organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, that are capable of causing disease in their hosts. Pathogens can infect humans, animals, plants, or other organisms and can lead to a wide range of diseases, from mild infections to life-threatening illnesses.

C. The severity of a disease that an organism is able to cause:

This definition refers to the term "virulence." Virulence is a measure of the severity or harmfulness of a pathogen, indicating its ability to cause disease in a host organism. Highly virulent pathogens are more likely to cause severe illness or death, while less virulent pathogens may cause milder symptoms or asymptomatic infections. Virulence factors, such as toxins, adhesion molecules, or evasion mechanisms, contribute to the pathogen's ability to cause disease.

D. A substance that can inhibit the growth of bacteria:

This definition refers to the term "antibiotic." Antibiotics are chemical substances produced by microorganisms, fungi, or synthesized in the laboratory that can inhibit the growth of or kill bacteria. Antibiotics are commonly used to treat bacterial infections and work by targeting specific bacterial structures or metabolic processes, thereby disrupting bacterial growth and survival. However, antibiotics are not mutations; instead, they are therapeutic agents used to combat bacterial infections.