Chapter 62: Macrolides

Chapter 62: Macrolides

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. A primary care nurse practitioner (NP) is prescribing once-daily azithromycin to a 25-year-old woman. When teaching her about the drug, the NP should tell her to:

ANS:  B

Patients who use oral contraceptive pills for birth control should be advised that macrolides can reduce their efficacy and that they should consider using a backup method of contraception. Azithromycin can be taken without regard to food. Severe gastrointestinal side effects are uncommon. The tablets should not be chewed, crushed, or cut.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Applying (Application)                           REF:   689

2. A primary care NP is preparing to prescribe a macrolide antibiotic for a patient who has a history of a prolonged QT interval on electrocardiogram. Which macrolide antibiotic should the NP prescribe?

ANS:  B

Azithromycin does not cause a prolonged QT interval , unlike the other macrolides, so it would be safe for this patient. Visual disturbances have been found to occur with the use of telithromycin. Erythromycin has a wider range of adverse effects and can cause cardiac effects in patients who have a prolonged QT interval. The Ilosone, E-Mycin, and Erythrocin are all erythromycins.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)             REF:   689

3. Which antibiotic requires administration of a loading dose?

ANS:  D

It is important to give a loading dose, without which minimum plasma concentrations may take 5 to 7 days to reach steady state.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)             REF:   690

4. A patient has had severe diarrhea for 2 weeks. Laboratory testing reveals Clostridium difficile. The primary care NP should prescribe:

ANS:  C

Fidaxomicin is indicated only for treatment of C. difficile–associated diarrhea. The other macrolides are not used for this purpose.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)             REF:   690