A 4-month-old baby has been brought to the emergency department ...

[altibaby]

A 4-month-old baby has been brought to the emergency department by her parents, and initial assessment is highly suggestive of bacterial meningitis. Consequently, the baby has been admitted, and empiric antibiotic therapy has been ordered.
 
  The nurse should understand what characteristic of this infant's current treatment plan? A) Success or failure of treatment will not be apparent for several weeks.
  B) The infant will receive aggressive treatment with a narrow-spectrum antibiotic.
  C) Culture and sensitivity results of the infant's cerebrospinal fluid are still pending.
  D) The infant is suspected of having an antibiotic-resistant infection.

Question 2

Numerous residents of a long-term care facility have developed Clostridium difficileassociated diarrhea over the past week. The nurses at this facility would anticipate that many residents would require which of the following drugs?
 
  A) Linezolid (Zyvox)
  B) Daptomycin (Cubicin)
  C) Metronidazole (Flagyl)
  D) Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin)

[amit]

Answer to Question 1

C
Feedback:
Empiric therapy is based on an informed estimate of the most likely pathogen(s) given the patient's signs and symptoms and the site of infection, as well as knowledge of communicable diseases currently infecting other people in the community. Because laboratory tests used to definitively identify causative organisms and to determine susceptibility to antibiotics usually require 48 to 72 hours, the prescriber usually initiates treatment with an antimicrobial drug that is likely to be effective. The other listed statements are not true of empiric therapy.

Answer to Question 2

C
Feedback:
Clinical indications for metronidazole include prevention or treatment of anaerobic bacterial infections (e.g., in colorectal surgery, intra-abdominal infections) and treatment of C. difficile infections associated with pseudomembranous colitis. The other listed antibiotics are not used for the treatment of Clostridium difficileassociated diarrhea.

[altibaby]

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[amit]

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