A client comes to the emergency department complaining of a sore throat. He has white patches on his tonsils, and he has swollen cervical lymph nodes. What will the best plan by the nurse include?
1. Plan to administer a narrow-spectrum antibiotic.
2. Plan to administer a broad-spectrum antibiotic.
3. Plan to obtain blood cultures.
4. Plan to obtain a throat culture.
Correct Answer: 4
Rationale 1: Initial therapy with a narrow-spectrum antibiotic is too specific without knowing the causative organism.
Rationale 2: A broad-spectrum antibiotic is commonly ordered, but a throat culture should be obtained first.
Rationale 3: Blood cultures are not necessary at this point because the infection is in the throat; it is not systemic.
Rationale 4: A throat culture is necessary to identify the causative organism and initiate the best antibiotic treatment.
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