When reviewing Ms. Robertson's culture and sensitivity test results, the nurse learns that the bacteria causing Ms. Robertson's infection are sensitive to penicillin. The nurse interprets this result to mean:

A.Goldenseal:

Goldenseal is a plant commonly used in herbal medicine, but it is not a drug that specifically inhibits bacterial beta-lactamase. While goldenseal may have antimicrobial properties, it is not typically used as a beta-lactamase inhibitor in the treatment of bacterial infections.

B. Ceftriaxone (Rocephin):

Ceftriaxone is a third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic. While it is an effective antibiotic for treating a wide range of bacterial infections, it does not have beta-lactamase inhibitor properties. Instead, ceftriaxone is susceptible to degradation by beta-lactamase enzymes produced by certain bacteria.

C. Penicillin:

Penicillin is one of the earliest discovered and most widely used beta-lactam antibiotics. However, many bacteria have developed resistance to penicillin by producing beta-lactamase enzymes. Penicillin itself does not inhibit beta-lactamase; instead, it is often combined with beta-lactamase inhibitors to enhance its effectiveness against beta-lactamase-producing bacteria.

D. Zosyn (piperacillin/tazobactam):

Zosyn is a combination antibiotic containing piperacillin, a broad-spectrum penicillin antibiotic, and tazobactam, a beta-lactamase inhibitor. Tazobactam inhibits the action of beta-lactamase enzymes produced by bacteria, allowing piperacillin to exert its antibacterial effects without being degraded by beta-lactamase. Therefore, Zosyn is the correct answer as it contains a drug that inhibits bacterial beta-lactamase.

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.