Which interventions would the nurse consider including in a plan of care for clients taking cephalosporins?

Question

Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. Monitor kidney function in older adults.
2. Monitor for persistent diarrhea in young children.
3. Discuss the concurrent use of alcohol.
4. Teach clients to report any fever that does not decrease within 12 hours of starting therapy.
5. Instruct clients to immediately go to the emergency department if any symptoms of red man syndrome occur during treatment.

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 1,2,3
Rationale 1: Physiological changes in the older adult's kidney function may require changes in dosing of cephalosporins.
Rationale 2: Diarrhea resulting from the use of cephalosporins may cause dehydration in young children.
Rationale 3: Some cephalosporins can cause a disulfiram-like reaction when taken with alcohol.
Rationale 4: Clients should be told that fever will begin to decrease in 1–3 days, not 12 hours.
Rationale 5: Vancomycin, not cephalosporin, can cause red man syndrome.
Global Rationale: Because cephalosporins are cleared through the kidney, renal function should be monitored. These drugs may result in diarrhea which should be monitored to prevent dehydration. The patient should be advised that a disulfiram-like reaction may occur when some cephalosporins are taken concurrently with alcohol.