A patient has been prescribed all four first-line drugs for tuberculosis (TB). Which laboratory blood value is most important for the nurse to report to the prescriber first?

a. Red blood cells (RBCs) 2.2 million/mm3
b. International normalized ratio 1.6
c. White blood cells 6000/mm3
d. Sodium 134 mEq/L


A
All of these values are abnormal; however, only the RBC count is seriously out of the normal range. One of the most serious adverse effects of rifampin (a major part of first-line drug therapy for TB) is suppression of RBC production, leading to anemia. This patient's RBC level is only about half of normal.

Nursing

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