Chapter 42: Antifungal Test, Pharmacology for Nurses: Practical Applications
The key terms in the Pharmacology course include Antifungal Test, Creatinine, Blood Urea Nitrogen, Patient, Pharmacology, Nurse, Antifungal Drug, Antifungal Medication, Pharmacology for Nurses: Practical Applications
Which are important for the nurse to monitor in a patient receiving an antifungal medication? (Select all that apply.)
Creatinine
Blood urea nitrogen
Mental status
Intake and output
Daily weights
Nursing interventions appropriate to patients receiving antifungal drugs vary depending on the particular drug. However, it is important for the nurse to monitor all patients for indications of possible medication-induced renal damage so that prompt interventions can occur to prevent further dysfunction. Monitoring intake and output amounts, daily weights, and renal function tests will help prevent such damage.
A patient is being treated for oral candidiasis. Which medication will the nurse anticipate administering?
Griseofulvin
Oseltamivir
Nystatin
Amantadine
Nystatin is an antifungal drug that is used for a variety of candidal infections. It is applied topically as a cream, ointment, or powder. It is also available as a troche and an oral liquid or tablet. The other medications are not used for candida infections.
The nurse has provided education to a patient about fungal skin infections. Further patient teaching is necessary when the patient tells the nurse they were prescribed antifungals for which condition?
Thrush
Athlete’s foot
Impetigo
Vaginal yeast infection
Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection and would not be classified as a fungal skin infection. If the patient included this in the discussion, further teaching is needed. All other skin infections listed are fungal and would be treated with antifungal medications.
The nurse would question a prescription for voriconazole if the patient was taking which medication?
Quinidine
Captopril
Clindamycin
The nurse would question a prescription for quinidine because both voriconazole and quinidine are metabolized by the cytochrome P-450 enzyme system. The drugs will compete for the limited number of enzymes, and one of the drugs will end up accumulating.
What conditions are considered contradictions for use of antifungal medications? (Select all that apply.)
Kidney failure
Respiratory failure
Liver failure
Heart failure
Pancreatic failure
Drug allergy, liver failure, kidney failure, and porphyria (for griseofulvin) are the most common contraindications for antifungal drugs.
Which antifungal drug can be given intravenously to treat severe yeast infections as well can be prescribed as a one-time oral dose to treat vaginal yeast infections?
Fluconazole
Nystatin
Caspofungin
Voriconazole
Fluconazole is an antifungal drug that does not cause the major adverse effects of amphotericin when given intravenously. It is also very effective against vaginal yeast infections, and a single dose is often sufficient to treat vaginal infections.
A patient visits the health care provider for treatment of tinea pedis (athlete’s foot). Which medication would the nurse instruct the patient to use to treat this condition?
Voriconazole
Caspofungin
Terbinafine
Amphotericin B
Terbinafine is classified as an allylamine antifungal drug and is currently the only drug in its class. It is available in a topical cream, gel, and spray for treating superficial dermatologic infections, including tinea pedis (athlete’s foot), tinea cruris (jock itch), and tinea corporis (ringworm).