Author Question: Besides the cost of administering a given drug, which are considerations when a provider selects a ... (Read 39 times)

K@ · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

Besides the cost of administering a given drug, which are considerations when a provider selects a cephalosporin to treat an infection? (Select all that apply.)

a. Adverse effects
b. Antimicrobial spectrum
c. Brand name
d. Manufacturer
e. Pharmacokinetics

Question 2

A patient receiving a cephalosporin develops a secondary intestinal infection caused by Clostridium difficile. What is an appropriate treatment for this patient?

a. Adding an antibiotic, such as vancomycin (Vancocin), to the patient's regimen
b. Discontinuing the cephalosporin and beginning metronidazole (Flagyl)
c. Discontinuing all antibiotics and providing fluid replacement
d. Increasing the dose of the cephalosporin and providing isolation measures

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

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A, B, E
Cephalosporins tend to be more alike than different, but some differences make some preferable to others. Adverse effects, antimicrobial spectrum, and drug pharmacokinetics affect a prescriber's decision to select one drug over another. The agent's brand name and manufacturer should not have anything to do with drug selection.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Patients who develop C. difficile infection (CDI) as a result of taking cephalosporins or other antibiotics need to stop taking the antibiotic in question and begin taking either metronidazole or vancomycin. Adding one of these antibiotics without withdrawing the cephalosporin is not indicated. CDI must be treated with an appropriate antibiotic, so stopping all antibiotics is incorrect. Increasing the cephalosporin dose would only aggravate the CDI.