NUR2407 Pharmacology Exam 2 Study Guide: Key Topics & Drugs to Review

Page 1 of 32


NUR2407 / NUR 2407 Exam 2 (Latest): Pharmacology -

Rasmussen

Goal of Antibacterial Drugs .....ANSWER.....Kill bacteria or stop

reproduction without harming the patient.

Spectrum of Antibacterial Drugs .....ANSWER.....Spectrum ≠

'stronger'; match drug to bug (use culture & sensitivity).

Intended Response of Antibacterial Drugs

.....ANSWER.....Disappearance of s/s of infection (fever ↓, WBC

normalizing, drainage ↓).

Common Side Effects of Antibacterial Drugs

.....ANSWER.....Diarrhea, thrush/vaginal yeast.

Adverse Effects of Antibacterial Drugs

.....ANSWER.....Allergy/anaphylaxis; C. difficile risk.

Cell Wall Synthesis Inhibitors .....ANSWER.....Bactericidal agents

that inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis.

,Page 2 of 32


Penicillins .....ANSWER.....Example: amoxicillin.

Cephalosporins .....ANSWER.....Examples: cefazolin, cephalexin.

Monobactams .....ANSWER.....Example: aztreonam.

Carbapenems .....ANSWER.....Example: imipenem/cilastatin.

Glycopeptide .....ANSWER.....Example: vancomycin.

Allergy Risk with Cell Wall Inhibitors .....ANSWER.....Allergy ↑

(cross-sensitivity: penicillin ↔ cephalosporins).

Adverse Effects of Vancomycin .....ANSWER.....N/V, fever/chills,

'red man syndrome,' hearing ↓, kidney function ↓; CNS changes,

nephrotoxicity.

Administration of Vancomycin .....ANSWER.....Give vancomycin

SLOWLY.

Teaching for Cephalosporins .....ANSWER.....Cephalosporins ≥1

hr before or ≥4 hr after iron/antacids.

,Page 3 of 32


Pediatric Considerations for Antibacterial Drugs

.....ANSWER.....Reserve stronger agents for serious infections.

Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Considerations

.....ANSWER.....Penicillins/most cephalosporins low risk;

carbapenems/monobactams/vanco low-to-moderate; all may be

excreted in milk.

Older Adults Considerations

.....ANSWER.....Ototoxicity/nephrotoxicity more likely.

Aminoglycosides .....ANSWER.....Examples: amikacin, gentamicin,

streptomycin.

Common Side Effects of Aminoglycosides .....ANSWER.....N/V,

rash, fever, lethargy.

Adverse Effects of Aminoglycosides .....ANSWER.....OTO- &

NEPHRO-toxicity, neuromuscular blockade.

, Page 4 of 32


Administration of Aminoglycosides .....ANSWER.....Baseline

breathing, labs, hearing must be checked before administration.

Tetracyclines .....ANSWER.....Antibiotics to avoid during

pregnancy and breastfeeding due to birth defect risk.

Macrolides .....ANSWER.....Most have a low risk of birth defects

and can pass into milk.

Oto-/nephrotoxicity .....ANSWER.....Increased risk in older adults

when using certain antibiotics.

Sulfonamides/Trimethoprim .....ANSWER.....Bacteriostatic agents

that also treat some non-bacterial infections (e.g., PJP).

Common side effects of Sulfonamides/Trimethoprim

.....ANSWER.....Headache, fever, skin rash, photosensitivity.

Adverse effects of Sulfonamides/Trimethoprim

.....ANSWER.....Bone marrow suppression (↓RBC/↓WBC/↓PLT),

Stevens-Johnson syndrome.