Mr. Carter has been recently started on an antibiotic, and has developed a rash and pruritis. You suspect an allergic reaction and immediately assess him for other more serious symptoms. What question would be most important to ask Mr. Carter?
"Are you having any difficulty breathing?"
"Have you noticed any blood in your stool?"
"Are you having difficulty with your hearing?"
"Do you have a headache?”
The Correct Answer is A
A. "Are you having any difficulty breathing?":
Difficulty breathing is a critical symptom that may indicate a severe allergic reaction, such as anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening. It is essential to assess for difficulty breathing immediately as it requires urgent intervention to ensure the patient's airway is clear and to administer appropriate treatment.
B. "Have you noticed any blood in your stool?":
While blood in the stool could indicate gastrointestinal bleeding, it is not typically associated with allergic reactions to antibiotics. This symptom is more commonly associated with other conditions such as gastrointestinal ulcers, infections, or inflammatory bowel disease. While important to assess, it is not as immediately concerning as difficulty breathing in the context of a suspected allergic reaction.
C. "Are you having difficulty with your hearing?":
Difficulty with hearing is not a common symptom of allergic reactions to antibiotics. It may be associated with other conditions such as ear infections or ototoxicity from certain medications. While it is important to assess any changes in hearing, it is not typically an immediate concern in the context of a suspected allergic reaction.
D. "Do you have a headache?":
Headaches are a common symptom that can occur for various reasons, including stress, tension, dehydration, or as a side effect of medications. While headaches can sometimes occur as a side effect of certain drugs, they are not typically associated with severe allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis. Therefore, while it is important to assess for headaches, it is not as immediately concerning as difficulty breathing in the context of a suspected allergic reaction.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. 36 months:
This duration is longer than typical treatment courses for TB. While treatment for drug-resistant TB may require an extended duration, standard treatment for drug-sensitive TB typically lasts for a shorter period.
B. 6-12 months:
This duration is within the typical range for the treatment of drug-sensitive TB. Standard treatment regimens for drug-sensitive TB usually involve a combination of multiple antibiotics taken for 6 to 9 months, sometimes extending up to 12 months depending on factors such as the severity of the disease and the patient's response to treatment.
C. 2-4 weeks:
This duration is too short for the treatment of TB. TB treatment requires a prolonged course of antibiotics to ensure the complete eradication of the bacteria and to prevent the development of drug resistance.
D. 7-10 days:
This duration is too short for the treatment of TB. TB treatment typically lasts for several months rather than days, as it involves a combination of antibiotics taken for an extended period to effectively treat the infection.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
- Abdominal surgery requires starting antibiotic therapy 4 days before surgery:
This statement is not accurate. While antibiotic prophylaxis is commonly administered before certain types of surgery to prevent surgical site infections, the timing and duration of antibiotic therapy vary depending on factors such as the type of surgery, the patient’s medical history, and institutional guidelines. However, starting antibiotic therapy four days before surgery would not be standard practice for most abdominal surgeries.
B. A reduction of intestinal bacteria lessens the possibility of postoperative infection:
This statement is correct. Neomycin, as well as other antibiotics used in bowel preparation regimens, help reduce the population of intestinal bacteria. By decreasing the bacterial load in the bowel before surgery, the risk of contaminating the surgical site with harmful bacteria during the procedure is reduced, thus lowering the likelihood of postoperative infections.
C. The bacteria found in the bowel cannot be destroyed after surgery:
This statement is incorrect. While it is true that the bowel contains a complex ecosystem of bacteria that play important roles in digestion and other physiological functions, the population of intestinal bacteria can be temporarily reduced through the use of antibiotics, such as neomycin, as part of a bowel preparation regimen before surgery.
D. Anesthesia makes the bowel resistant to an antibiotic after surgery:
This statement is not accurate. Anesthesia does not render the bowel resistant to antibiotics after surgery. However, the administration of antibiotics during surgery and postoperatively may be indicated in certain cases to prevent or treat infections, particularly if the surgical procedure involves contamination of the abdominal cavity or if the patient is at increased risk of infection.
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