Author Question: A patient with severe community-acquired pneumonia has been prescribed telithromycin Ketek. Which ... (Read 109 times)

swpotter12 · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

A patient with severe community-acquired pneumonia has been prescribed telithromycin Ketek. Which aspect of the patient's medical history is of concern to the nurse?

a. Anemia
b. Myasthenia gravis
c. Renal disease
d. Strep. pneumoniae infection

Question 2

A prescriber has ordered deferasirox Exjade to treat iron overload associated with chronic blood transfusions. The nurse learns that the patient takes cholestyramine to reduce cholesterol.

The nurse will contact the provider to request an order to: a. increase the cholestyramine dose.
b. increase the deferasirox dose.
c. monitor cholesterol levels.
d. monitor liver function tests.

janeli1 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

B
Telithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic used only for CAP. Patients with myasthenia gravis may experience rapid muscle weakness after taking the drug, and some have died from respiratory failure, so patients with MG should not take this drug. This drug does not have significant mye-losuppression, so anemia is not a concern. The drug causes liver injury, so liver disease, and not renal disease, is a concern. Telithromycin is indicated for treatment of S. pneumonia.

Answer to Question 2

B
Cholestyramine can reduce absorption of deferasirox; if the combination cannot be avoided, the dose of deferasirox should be increased. Increasing the dose of cholestyramine will only worsen the problem. It is not necessary to monitor the cholesterol level. Liver function testing should be routine with deferasirox administration, but not because of the combination of this drug with cholestyramine.