A nurse preparing to administer intravenous gentamicin to a patient notes that the dose is half the usual dose for an adult. The nurse suspects that this is because this patient has a history of:

Question

a. antibiotic resistance.
b. interpatient variation.
c. liver disease.
d. renal disease.

Answer 1

D
The aminoglycosides are eliminated primarily by the kidneys, so in patients with renal disease, doses should be reduced or the dosing interval should be increased to prevent toxicity. Patients with antibiotic resistance would be given amikacin. Interpatient variation may occur but cannot be known without knowing current drug levels. Aminoglycosides are not metabolized by the liv-er, so liver disease would not affect drug levels.