Author Question: A patient with septicemia is administered cefotaxime sodium (Claforan), a second-generation ... (Read 53 times)

bobypop · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

A patient with septicemia is administered cefotaxime sodium (Claforan), a second-generation cephalosporin. How is this medication excreted?

A) It is excreted by the lungs.
B) It is excreted by the liver.
C) It is excreted by the kidneys.
D) It is excreted through the GI tract.

Question 2

A patient is being treated for bipolar disorder with lithium carbonate (Eskalith). He also suffers from congestive heart failure and hypertension. The patient has an increased fluid volume and has recently had difficulty breathing.

What laboratory value will most affect the action of the patient's lithium carbonate? A) Increased hematocrit
B) Increased sodium level
C) Increased potassium level
D) Increased white blood cell count

ntsoane kedibone · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

C
Feedback:
Cefotaxime sodium, like all cephalosporins, is excreted by the kidneys. Cefotaxime is not excreted by the lungs, liver, or GI tract.

Answer to Question 2

B
Feedback:
A sodium excess causes more lithium to be excreted and may lower lithium levels to nontherapeutic ranges. An increased lithium level would not be noted with a patient who has fluid volume excess and hypertension. An increased potassium level is unlikely with fluid volume excess. An increased white blood cell count is indicative of infection, from which the patient does not suffer.