The client on penicillin who is complaining of an abnormal vaginal discharge has a superinfection secondary to:

Question

1. a nosocomial infection.
2. an overdose of penicillin.
3. the destruction by penicillin of normal flora in the vagina.
4. the development of an organism resistant to penicillin.

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 3
Rationale 1: Vaginal discharge is not a sign of nosocomial infection.
Rationale 2: Vaginal discharge is not a sign of penicillin overdose.
Rationale 3: Superinfections occur when organisms normally present in the body are destroyed by an antibiotic and pathogenic organisms can grow unchecked.
Rationale 4: Vaginal discharge is not a sign of antibiotic resistance.
Global Rationale: Antibiotics are unable to distinguish between host flora and pathogenic organisms. When an antibiotic kills the host's normal flora, additional nutrients and space are available for pathogenic microorganisms to grow unchecked. These new, secondary infections caused by antibiotic use are called superinfections, or suprainfections. The appearance of a new infection while receiving anti-infective therapy is highly suspicious of a superinfection. Signs and symptoms of superinfection commonly include diarrhea, bladder pain, painful urination, or abnormal vaginal discharges.