When administering medications to infants, it is important to ...

[WhattoUnderstand]

When administering medications to infants, it is important to remember which of the following? (Select all that apply.)
 
  a. Breast-feeding infants are more likely to develop toxicity when given lipid-soluble drugs.
  b. Immaturity of renal function in infancy causes infants to excrete drugs less efficiently.
  c. Infants have immature livers, which slows drug metabolism.
  d. Infants are more sensitive to medications that act on the central nervous system (CNS).
  e. Oral medications are contraindicated in infants, because PO administration requires a cooperative patient.

Question 2

A patient has been receiving an antibiotic with a small therapeutic index for 10 days. Upon assessment, the nurse suspects that the patient may be experiencing toxicity. What would be the nurse's priority action?
 
  a. Call the prescriber and have the antibiotic changed.
  b. Suspect an allergic reaction and administer a PRN antihistamine.
  c. Ask the prescriber to order a plasma drug level test.
  d. Set up oxygen and obtain an order for an antagonist.

[leahchrapun]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B, C, D
Immature renal function causes infants to excrete drugs more slowly, and infants are at risk for toxicity until renal function is well developed. Infants' livers are not completely developed, and they are less able to metabolize drugs efficiently. Because the blood-brain barrier is not well developed in infants, caution must be used when administering CNS drugs. Lipid-soluble drugs may be excreted in breast milk if the mother is taking them, but breast-feeding does not affect medications given directly to the infant. Oral medications may be given safely to infants as long as they are awake and can swallow the drug.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
A drug with a narrow therapeutic index indicates that a drug is relatively unsafe and should be monitored closely. The nurse should have a blood level drawn to confirm suspicions of toxicity. The nurse would not have the antibiotic changed, because there is no cause at this time. The patient is unlikely to be experiencing an allergic reaction, because the antibiotic has been in the system for 10 days. The patient shows no signs of anaphylaxis, so oxygen and an antagonist are not indicated.

[WhattoUnderstand]

Gracias!

[ktidd]

TYSM