Comprehensive Nursing Pharmacology Q 266
The most important instructions a nurse can give a patient regarding the use of the antibiotic ampicillin prescribed for her are to
A. Call the physician if she has any breathing difficulties.
B. Take it with meals so it doesn’t cause an upset stomach.
C. Take all of the medication prescribed even if the symptoms stop sooner.
D. Not share the pills with anyone else.
Correct Answer: C. Take all of the medication prescribed even if the symptoms stop sooner.
Frequently patients do not complete an entire course of antibiotic therapy, and the bacteria are not destroyed. Ampicillin is a prescription penicillin-type antibiotic used to treat many different types of infections caused by bacteria, such as ear infections, bladder infections, pneumonia, gonorrhea, and E. coli or salmonella infection.
Option A: The primary adverse effects of ampicillin include seizure, diarrhea, enterocolitis, pseudomembranous colitis, vomiting, agranulocytosis, hemolytic anemia, eosinophilia, and immune thrombocytopenia. Rashes and urticaria occur frequently. Reports also exist of some cases of erythema multiforme and exfoliative dermatitis. Anaphylaxis is the most severe complication experienced and is usually associated with the parenteral form.
Option B: When administered orally, it should be on an empty stomach with 1 or 2 full glasses of water to increase absorption. The half-life of ampicillin is 0.7 to 1.5 hours in adults with normal kidney function.
Option D: When administering a prolonged therapy, monitor renal, hepatic, and hematologic functions periodically. Additionally, watch for signs of anaphylaxis during the first dose. In cases of overdose, discontinuation of the medication, symptomatic treatment, and supportive care institution is necessary. In patients with decreased renal function, the antimicrobial is removable via hemodialysis but not peritoneal dialysis. Whole bowel irrigation has been proven to be effective in severe cases of oral overdoses.