The nurse caring for a client with cancer is teaching the client about chemotherapeutic medications that affect bacterial DNA replication. Which medications should the nurse include in the teaching plan for this client?

Question

Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. Cytarabine (Cytosar-U)
2. Fluorouracil (5-FU)
3. Daunorubicin (Cerubidine)
4. Bleomycin (Blenoxane)
5. Acyclovir (Zovirax)

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 1,2,3,4
Rationale 1: Cytarabine (Cytosar-U) is a chemotherapeutic agent that resembles nucleotides and is mistakenly incorporated into newly formed DNA strands, inhibiting replication.
Rationale 2: Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a chemotherapeutic agents that resembles nucleotides and is mistakenly incorporated into newly formed DNA strands, inhibiting replication.
Rationale 3: Daunorubicin (Cerubidine) is a highly toxic chemotherapeutic antibiotic that interacts with DNA to physically block replication.
Rationale 4: Bleomycin (Blenoxane) is a highly toxic chemotherapeutic antibiotic that interacts with DNA to physically block replication.
Rationale 5: Acyclovir is an antiviral agent, not a chemotherapeutic agent.
Global Rationale: Cytarabine (Cytosar-U) and fluorouracil (5-FU) resemble nucleotides and are mistakenly incorporated into newly formed DNA strands. Daunorubicin (Cerubidine) and bleomycin (Blenoxane) are highly toxic antibiotics that interact with DNA to physically block replication. Although classified as antibiotics, these drugs are too toxic to be used for infections, but have therapeutic indications in the chemotherapy of specific types of cancer. Acyclovir is an antiviral agent, not a chemotherapeutic agent.