Chapter 08- Anti-infective Agents
1. A patient asks the nurse how an anti-infective produces a therapeutic effect. What key point will the
nurse explain
... [Show More] to this patient?
A) Drugs used to treat infections date back to the 17th century.
B) All anti-infectives work in the same way to destroy organisms.
C) Selective toxicity determines the appropriate drug dosage needed.
D) The goal of anti-infectives is to interfere with normal functioning of the organism.
Ans: D
Feedback:
The goal of anti-infectives is to interfere with the normal function of the invading organism to prevent
it from reproducing and to cause cell death without affecting host cells. Each class of anti-infectives
works in a different way, but all have the same goal. Because bacteria cells have a slightly different
composition than human cells, the bacteria are destroyed without interfering with the host. The first
drugs used to treat systemic infections were developed in the early 20th century. The term selective
toxicity refers to the ability to affect certain proteins or enzyme systems that are used by infecting
organisms, but not by human cells.
2. The nursing student learns about anti-infectives in class and demonstrates the need to study more when
making what statement about how anti-infectives work?
A) Some anti-infectives interfere with biosynthesis of the pathogen’s cell wall.
B) Some anti-infectives prevent the cells of the organism from using essential substances.
C) Many anti-infectives interfere with the steps involved in protein synthesis.
D) Some anti-infectives interfere with ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis in the cell leading to cell
death.
Ans: D
Feedback:
Some anti-infectives interfere with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis, not RNA synthesis, in the
cell, leading to inability to divide and causing cell death. The fluoroquinolones work in this way. The
other three options are correct and would not indicate the need for further study time. Penicillins
Test Bank - Focus on Nursing Pharmacology (7th Edition by Amy Karch) 120
interfere with biosynthesis of the cell wall, sulfonamides prevent organisms from using substances
essential to their growth and development, whereas aminoglycosides, macrolides, and chloramphenicol
interfere with protein synthesis.
3. The nurse administers a drug to treat Neisseria gonorrhoeae that works on no other bacteria. How
would the nurse describe this drug? [Show Less]