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.
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.
You might also like to view...
The population health nurse is working with a runaway adolescent who has been living in a local shelter. The nurse and the adolescent have explored the possibility of the adolescent returning home, and the adolescent is amenable
The most appropriate nursing intervention is to: 1. Contact the family and arrange for a time when the adolescent can return. 2. Work with the shelter to improve conditions for adolescent residents. 3. Work with the community to improve programs that address adolescent concerns. 4. Arrange for counseling for the adolescent and family before and after the adolescent returns.
During a health history, the nurse explores the sleeping habits of a 3-year-old boy by interviewing his parents. Which of the following statements from the parents reflects a recommended guideline for promoting healthy sleep in this age group?
A) "Our son sleeps through the night, and we insist that he takes two naps a day." B) "We keep a strict bedtime ritual for our son, which includes a bath and bedtime story." C) "Our son still sleeps in a crib because we feel it is the safest place for him at night." D) "Our son occasionally experiences night walking so we allow him to stay up later when this happens."
Which statement best describes vulnerability in respect to research participants?
a. Someone who has a mental illness b. Someone who has a child c. Someone with diminished capacity to give informed consent or not completely free to give consent d. An older adult
Which describes a major characteristic of viruses?
A. Extracellular parasites B. Intracellular parasites C. Extracellular bacterial in nature D. Intracellular bacterial in nature