Running head: ANTIBIOTIC CASE STUDY 1
Antibiotic Case Study
University of Texas at Arlington
College of Nursing and Health Innovations
In partial fulfillment of the requirements of
Advanced Pharmacology for APN’s NURS
5334 Tammy Mangual, DNP, APRN-BC, CNE
, ANTIBIOTIC CASE STUDY 2
Assessment: Five-year-old female presents with sore throat and fever. Rapid antigen detection
test (RADT) confirms diagnosis of group A streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis.
Plan: Begin antibiotic regimen along with pain control measures.
Pharmacologic:
1. Amoxicillin 10 ml of 250 mg/5ml suspension, given by mouth twice daily
2. Ibuprofen 5 ml of 100mg/5ml liquid given by mouth every 6 hours for fever over 101.
Rationale: (Amoxicillin) The antibiotic of choice to treat GAS pharyngitis is penicillin or
amoxicillin if the patient has no allergy to penicillin (Center for Disease Control and Prevention
[CDC], 2018). A ten-day course of penicillin V is the preferred course of treatment or if there is
likelihood of non-compliance, a single dose of penicillin G benzathine can be given. However,
This study resource
the use of amoxicillin is a highly acceptable alternative with children due to the low cost, easy
administration and taste which increase the compliance rate (Homme,2019). In addition,
amoxicillin, being more acid stable, produces fewer intestinal side effects such as diarrhea
(Rosenthal, 2018). Even though GAS pharyngitis is likely to resolve itself within a few days
was
without treatment, the administration of antibiotics can provide acute symptom relief, reduce
communicability and prevent complications. Antibiotic therapy has also been shown to decrease
the rates of peritonsillar and retropharyngeal abscesses as well as reduce the occurrence of acute
rheumatic fever (CDC,2018).
Rationale: (Ibuprofen) When caring for their ill child, parents often have a high concern
with keeping their child’s temperature normal. While fever may have beneficial effects in
fighting infection by retarding the growth of bacteria and viruses, it is a common occurrence to
recommend the use of antipyretics to relieve the child’s discomfort with an additional benefit of
the reduction of insensible water loss which could lead to dehydration (Sullivan & Farrar, 2016).
While studies show that both acetaminophen and ibuprofen are safe and tolerable, the efficacy of
ibuprofen has been shown to be better and provides longer, faster and greater temperature
reduction (Jayawardena & Kellstein, 2017).
Non-Pharmacologic:
1. Instruct parents to finish entire course of antibiotics, even if child is feeling better.
2. Child should stay home from school or day care until they are afebrile, and they have
had 24 hours of antibiotic therapy.
3. Good hand and respiratory hygiene should be discussed with patient and parents to
help reduce transmission.
4. Instruct parents not to wake sleeping child to administer antipyretic.
5. Discuss with parents dosing of OTC antipyretics is based on weight rather than height
or age, so that incorrect dosing is avoided. Also, discuss drug storage and warn
against multiple dosing if more than one person is caring for child.
6. Have child get plenty of rest, stay well hydrated, and avoid spicy foods and drinks
7. Gargle with warm saltwater or offer child popsicles.
Antibiotic Case Study
University of Texas at Arlington
College of Nursing and Health Innovations
In partial fulfillment of the requirements of
Advanced Pharmacology for APN’s NURS
5334 Tammy Mangual, DNP, APRN-BC, CNE
, ANTIBIOTIC CASE STUDY 2
Assessment: Five-year-old female presents with sore throat and fever. Rapid antigen detection
test (RADT) confirms diagnosis of group A streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis.
Plan: Begin antibiotic regimen along with pain control measures.
Pharmacologic:
1. Amoxicillin 10 ml of 250 mg/5ml suspension, given by mouth twice daily
2. Ibuprofen 5 ml of 100mg/5ml liquid given by mouth every 6 hours for fever over 101.
Rationale: (Amoxicillin) The antibiotic of choice to treat GAS pharyngitis is penicillin or
amoxicillin if the patient has no allergy to penicillin (Center for Disease Control and Prevention
[CDC], 2018). A ten-day course of penicillin V is the preferred course of treatment or if there is
likelihood of non-compliance, a single dose of penicillin G benzathine can be given. However,
This study resource
the use of amoxicillin is a highly acceptable alternative with children due to the low cost, easy
administration and taste which increase the compliance rate (Homme,2019). In addition,
amoxicillin, being more acid stable, produces fewer intestinal side effects such as diarrhea
(Rosenthal, 2018). Even though GAS pharyngitis is likely to resolve itself within a few days
was
without treatment, the administration of antibiotics can provide acute symptom relief, reduce
communicability and prevent complications. Antibiotic therapy has also been shown to decrease
the rates of peritonsillar and retropharyngeal abscesses as well as reduce the occurrence of acute
rheumatic fever (CDC,2018).
Rationale: (Ibuprofen) When caring for their ill child, parents often have a high concern
with keeping their child’s temperature normal. While fever may have beneficial effects in
fighting infection by retarding the growth of bacteria and viruses, it is a common occurrence to
recommend the use of antipyretics to relieve the child’s discomfort with an additional benefit of
the reduction of insensible water loss which could lead to dehydration (Sullivan & Farrar, 2016).
While studies show that both acetaminophen and ibuprofen are safe and tolerable, the efficacy of
ibuprofen has been shown to be better and provides longer, faster and greater temperature
reduction (Jayawardena & Kellstein, 2017).
Non-Pharmacologic:
1. Instruct parents to finish entire course of antibiotics, even if child is feeling better.
2. Child should stay home from school or day care until they are afebrile, and they have
had 24 hours of antibiotic therapy.
3. Good hand and respiratory hygiene should be discussed with patient and parents to
help reduce transmission.
4. Instruct parents not to wake sleeping child to administer antipyretic.
5. Discuss with parents dosing of OTC antipyretics is based on weight rather than height
or age, so that incorrect dosing is avoided. Also, discuss drug storage and warn
against multiple dosing if more than one person is caring for child.
6. Have child get plenty of rest, stay well hydrated, and avoid spicy foods and drinks
7. Gargle with warm saltwater or offer child popsicles.
