A woman is diagnosed with primary syphilis during her eighth week ...

[sam.t96]

A woman is diagnosed with primary syphilis during her eighth week of pregnancy. The nurse will plan to teach the patient about the
 
  a. likelihood of a stillbirth.
  b. plans for cesarean section
  c. intramuscular injection of penicillin.
  d. antibiotic eye drops for the newborn.

Question 2

Which statement by a 24-year-old patient indicates that the nurse's teaching about management of primary genital herpes has been effective?
 
  a. I will use acyclovir ointment on the area to relieve the pain.
  b. I will use condoms for intercourse until the medication is all gone.
  c. I will take the acyclovir (Zovirax) every 8 hours for the next week.
  d. I will need to take all of the medication to be sure the infection is cured.

[cadimas]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
A single injection of penicillin is recommended to treat primary syphilis. This will treat the mother and prevent transmission of the disease to the fetus. Instillation of erythromycin into the eyes of the newborn is used to prevent gonorrheal eye infections. C-section is used to prevent the transmission of herpes to the newborn. Although stillbirth can occur if the fetus is infected with syphilis, treatment before the tenth week of gestation will eliminate in utero transmission to the fetus.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
The treatment regimen for primary genital herpes infections includes acyclovir 400 mg 3 times daily for 7 to 10 days. The patient is taught to abstain from intercourse until the lesions are gone. (Condoms should be used even when the patient is asymptomatic.) Acyclovir ointment is not effective in treating lesions or reducing pain. Herpes infection is chronic and recurrent.