A toddler client with a fever is prescribed amoxicillin ...

[tuffie]

A toddler client with a fever is prescribed amoxicillin clavulanate 250 mg/5 cc three times daily by mouth  10 days for otitis media. Which teaching point will guard against antibiotic resistance to the disease process?
 
  1. Administer a loading dose for the first dose.
  2. Measure the prescribed dose in a household teaspoon.
  3. Give the antibiotic for the full 10 days.
  4. Stop the antibiotic if the child is afebrile.

Question 2

Reducing the number of preventable childhood illnesses is a major national goal in Healthy People 2020. What will the school nurse teach families regarding immunizations in order to reach this goal?
 
  1. A minor illness with a low-grade fever is a contraindication to receiving an immunization according to Healthy People 2020.
  2. Vaccines should be given one at a time for optimum active immunity in the prevention of illness and disease.
  3. Premature infants and low-birth-weight infants should receive half doses of vaccines for protection from communicable diseases.
  4. It is important to maintain vaccination coverage for recommended vaccines in early childhood and to maintain them through kindergarten.

[abctaiwan]

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 3
Rationale: Antibiotics must be administered for the full number of days ordered to prevent mutation of resistant strains of bacteria. A loading dose was not ordered. A household teaspoon may contain less than 5 cc, and the full dose must be given. Stopping the antibiotic before the prescribed time will permit remaining bacteria to reproduce, and the otitis media will return, possibly with antibiotic-resistant organisms. The absence of a fever is not an indication that all bacteria are killed or not reproducing.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 4
Rationale: The benefits of vaccines far outweigh the risks from communicable diseases and resulting complications. A minor illness is not a contraindication to immunization. Giving vaccines one at a time will result in many missed opportunities. Half doses of vaccines should not be given routinely to premature and low-birth-weight infants.