A drug that kills bacteria outright, rather than only halting their multiplication, is described as bactericidal.
Missing Word
bactericidal
Bactericidal drugs, such as penicillins, kill bacteria directly. Drugs that only stop bacterial growth and rely on the immune system to finish the job are bacteriostatic.
Category: Antibacterial Drugs
Question 2
An overgrowth of resistant organisms that occurs after an antibiotic destroys the normal flora is called a superinfection.
Missing Word
superinfection
A superinfection is a new infection that arises when antibiotics wipe out protective normal flora. Oral candidiasis and C. difficile colitis are common examples.
Category: Antibiotic Safety
Question 3
A hospital report that summarizes local patterns of bacterial resistance, used to guide empiric drug choice, is called an antibiogram.
Missing Word
antibiogram
An antibiogram compiles culture results from a facility or region to show which antibiotics local bacteria are still susceptible to, helping prescribers choose therapy before culture results return.
Category: Antibacterial Drugs
Question 4
Cefazolin and ceftriaxone belong to the cephalosporins, a class of beta-lactam antibiotics whose members are grouped into generations by spectrum of activity.
Missing Word
cephalosporins
Cephalosporins are beta-lactam antibiotics that inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis. They are sorted into generations, and later generations generally add gram-negative coverage. Because they share the beta-lactam ring with penicillins, the nurse asks about penicillin allergy before the first dose.
Category: Antibacterial Drugs
Question 5
A severe, life-threatening allergic reaction with throat swelling and difficulty breathing, which the nurse watches for after a first dose of penicillin, is called anaphylaxis.
Missing Word
anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a rapid, systemic hypersensitivity reaction that can close the airway and drop the blood pressure. Patients are taught to report throat swelling, rash, itching or chest tightness right away.
Category: Antibiotic Safety
Question 6
An intensely itchy skin infestation caused by mites that burrow into the outer layer of the skin, treated with topical permethrin cream, is called scabies.
Missing Word
scabies
Scabies is caused by a mite that tunnels into the skin and lays eggs, producing intense itching that is often worse at night. Close contacts are usually treated at the same time, and clothing and bedding are washed in hot water to prevent reinfestation.
Category: STI and Parasite Drugs
Question 7
Oseltamivir blocks the influenza enzyme neuraminidase, which the virus needs to release new particles from infected cells.
Missing Word
neuraminidase
Neuraminidase frees newly formed influenza virions from the host cell surface. Neuraminidase inhibitors such as oseltamivir, zanamivir and peramivir work best when started within 48 hours of symptom onset.
Category: Antiviral Drugs
Question 8
Oral candidiasis, a yeast infection of the mouth that can be treated with nystatin suspension, is commonly called thrush.
Missing Word
thrush
Thrush is a Candida infection that forms white patches in the mouth. Because nystatin is not absorbed, it acts locally on the mouth and gut.
Category: Antifungal Drugs
Question 9
Caspofungin and micafungin are echinocandins, antifungals that block glucan synthesis in the fungal cell wall.
Missing Word
echinocandins
Echinocandins inhibit 1,3-beta-glucan synthase, an enzyme human cells lack, so the fungal cell wall is weakened and the organism dies.
Category: Antifungal Drugs
Question 10
Atazanavir and darunavir block protease, the HIV enzyme that cuts long viral protein chains into mature proteins.
Missing Word
protease
Protease cleaves viral polyproteins into functional pieces. When protease is blocked, only immature, noninfectious virus particles are produced.
Category: HIV Antiretrovirals
Question 11
A tuberculin skin test is read by measuring the raised, hardened area at the injection site, called induration.
Missing Word
induration
Induration is the firm swelling produced by a delayed immune reaction to tuberculin. Only the hardened area is measured, not redness, and a positive result leads to further testing such as a chest x-ray.
Category: Tuberculosis Drugs
Question 12
The painless ulcer that forms at the site of exposure in primary syphilis is called a chancre.
Missing Word
chancre
A chancre is the classic lesion of primary syphilis. Because it is painless it is often missed, and untreated infection progresses to later stages.
Category: STI and Parasite Drugs
Question 13
Parasitic worms, including roundworms, tapeworms and flukes, are known as helminths.
Missing Word
helminths
Helminths are multicellular worms, most often infecting the GI tract. Anthelmintic drugs such as mebendazole and ivermectin treat them.
Category: STI and Parasite Drugs
Question 14
Lice eggs that cling to the hair shaft and must be removed with a fine-tooth comb after treatment are called nits.
Missing Word
nits
Nits attach firmly to hair and are not reliably killed by pediculicides, so careful combing prevents them from hatching and causing reinfestation.
Category: STI and Parasite Drugs
Question 15
The topical pediculicide lindane carries a boxed warning because seizures and deaths have occurred, mainly with repeated or prolonged use.
Missing Word
lindane
Lindane is absorbed through the skin and can cause CNS toxicity, especially in children and with overuse. Safer agents such as permethrin are generally preferred.
Category: STI and Parasite Drugs