A Patient Hospitalized with a Streptococcal IE Tells the Nurse

question 2

Multiple Choice

A patient hospitalized with a streptococcal IE tells the nurse that the physician said treatment would require 4 to 6 weeks of antibiotic therapy and says she needs to get back to work as soon as possible.In advising the patient about the expected regimen for IE,what should the nurse explain about the treatment?

• A) After 2 weeks of IV antibiotic therapy,she may be discharged with oral antibiotics to take for another 4 weeks.
• B) Hospitalization for 4 to 6 weeks will be necessary to prevent a relapse while she receives IV antibiotic therapy.
• C) She may be able to receive outpatient IV antibiotic therapy with home nursing care if complications do not develop.
• D) She will be able to return to work as soon as her fever subsides if she does not develop any symptoms of heart failure.

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Definitions:

Blood-Brain Barrier

The blood-brain barrier is a semi-permeable barrier of endothelial cells that prevents most substances in the blood from non-selectively crossing into the brain, protecting it from pathogens and toxins.

Myelin Sheaths

Protective covering made of fat and protein that surrounds nerve fibers, facilitating the rapid transmission of nerve impulses.

Myelin Sheath

A fatty layer that covers and insulates nerve fibers to enhance the speed of electrical impulses.

Nodes of Ranvier

Gaps in the myelin sheath of a nerve fiber where the axon is exposed, allowing for the rapid transmission of nerve impulses through saltatory conduction.