What is the best method of monitoring therapeutic blood levels of vancomycin during therapy?

By assessing the temperature every 4 hours

By repeating a culture and sensitivity test on day 3

By obtaining drug peak and trough levels

By assessing for breathlessness

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

A. By assessing the temperature every 4 hours:

Monitoring temperature every 4 hours is a common practice in hospitalized patients to detect fever, which could indicate an infection or an inflammatory response. However, this method does not directly assess the therapeutic blood levels of vancomycin. Fever alone does not provide specific information about the effectiveness or concentration of the antibiotic in the bloodstream.

B. By repeating a culture and sensitivity test on day 3:

Culture and sensitivity tests involve taking a sample from the patient (such as blood, urine, or sputum) and growing the microorganisms in a laboratory to identify the causative organism and determine its susceptibility to antibiotics. While this test is essential for identifying the appropriate antibiotic therapy initially, repeating it on day 3 does not directly monitor therapeutic blood levels of vancomycin. It also doesn't provide real-time information about the concentration of vancomycin in the bloodstream.

C. By obtaining drug peak and trough levels:

This choice involves measuring the highest (peak) and lowest (trough) concentrations of vancomycin in the bloodstream. Peak levels are typically measured about 1 hour after the completion of a vancomycin infusion, while trough levels are measured just before the next dose is administered. These measurements allow healthcare providers to ensure that the drug concentration remains within the therapeutic range to effectively treat the infection while minimizing the risk of toxicity.

D. By assessing for breathlessness:

Assessing for breathlessness is important for monitoring respiratory status, particularly in patients receiving vancomycin, as rare side effects like red-man syndrome or anaphylaxis can cause respiratory distress. However, this method does not directly monitor therapeutic blood levels of vancomycin.

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Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is ["A","B","D"]

Explanation

A.Recognizing the role of spirituality in health and healing:

Many CAM therapies acknowledge the importance of spirituality in health and healing. Spiritual well-being is considered an integral aspect of overall health in many CAM modalities. Practices such as meditation, yoga, and mindfulness often incorporate spiritual elements. Therefore, recognizing the role of spirituality in health and healing is a common characteristic of CAM therapies.

B. Focusing on treatment of the person as an individual:

One of the key principles of CAM therapies is treating the individual as a whole, taking into account physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of health. CAM practitioners often emphasize personalized care tailored to the unique needs and characteristics of each individual. Therefore, focusing on the treatment of the person as an individual is a common characteristic of CAM therapies.

C. Focusing only on physical health:

This statement is incorrect. Unlike conventional Western medicine, which primarily focuses on the physical aspects of health and disease, CAM therapies often take a holistic approach that considers the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and spirit. Therefore, CAM therapies typically address physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of health, rather than focusing solely on physical health.

D.Promotion of disease prevention, self-care, and self-healing:

Many CAM therapies emphasize the importance of disease prevention, self-care practices, and the body’s innate ability to heal itself. These therapies often encourage individuals to take an active role in maintaining their health and well-being through lifestyle modifications, stress management techniques, dietary changes, and other self-care practices. Therefore, promotion of disease prevention, self-care, and self-healing is a common characteristic of CAM therapies.

A. Bacteriostatics are narrow spectrum drugs and bactericidal drugs are broad spectrum B. Bacteriostatic drugs inhibit bacterial growth, and bactericidal drugs actually kill bacteria C. Bacteriostatics work by inhibiting protein synthesis and bactericidal drugs work by inhibiting nucleic acid synthesis D. Bacteriostatic drugs actually kill bacteria and bactericidal drugs inhibit bacterial growth

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A. Bacteriostatics are narrow spectrum drugs, and bactericidal drugs are broad spectrum:

This statement is incorrect. The spectrum of activity (narrow vs. broad) of an antibiotic refers to the range of bacterial species that it can target, not whether it is bacteriostatic or bactericidal.

B. Bacteriostatic drugs inhibit bacterial growth, and bactericidal drugs actually kill bacteria:

This statement is correct. Bacteriostatic drugs work by inhibiting the growth and reproduction of bacteria without directly killing them, whereas bactericidal drugs directly kill bacteria.

C. Bacteriostatics work by inhibiting protein synthesis, and bactericidal drugs work by inhibiting nucleic acid synthesis:

This statement is incorrect. Both bacteriostatic and bactericidal drugs can target various bacterial cellular processes, including protein synthesis, nucleic acid synthesis, cell wall synthesis, and others. The mechanism of action is not a definitive factor in distinguishing between bacteriostatic and bactericidal drugs.

D. Bacteriostatic drugs actually kill bacteria, and bactericidal drugs inhibit bacterial growth:

This statement is incorrect. It contradicts the established definitions of bacteriostatic and bactericidal drugs. Bacteriostatic drugs inhibit bacterial growth without killing the bacteria, while bactericidal drugs directly kill bacteria.

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What is the best method of monitoring therapeutic blood levels of vancomycin during therapy?

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The nurse understands that CAM therapies have common characteristics, such as which of the following? (Select All that Apply)

Correct Answer is ["A","B","D"]

Explanation

Which of the following differentiates a bacteriostatic drug from a bactericidal drug?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

The nurse is discussing treatment for a superinfection with a client and family members. The family asks the nurse what a superinfection is. What is the best response by the nurse?

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The nurse is discharging a client to home with a prescription for clarithromycin (Biaxin). The nurse knows that teaching has been effective when the client states:

The term "virulence" refers to:

Which adverse effect unique to vancomycin is caused by histamine release?

Mr. Thomas, who is receiving oral penicillin, reports that he has a sore mouth. On inspection, the nurse notes bright red oral mucous membranes with some white patches. The primary care provider is notified immediately because these symptoms may be caused by:

Which of the following can be determined using culture and sensitivity tests?