ATI RN
NCLEX questions on chemotherapy drugs Questions
Question 1 of 5
A 43-year-old man with leukemia is hospitalized for treatment after his prior chemotherapeutic regimen failed to produce remission. Bone marrow biopsy is repeated and indicates the presence of hairy cell leukemia. Treatment with fludarabine has begun. This agent likely works in which of the following ways?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Fludarabine is a purine analog that requires phosphorylation into its active triphosphate form, inhibiting DNA synthesis and repair, highly effective in hairy cell leukemia.
Question 2 of 5
An 18-year-old female plans to take a mission trip to Ghana for 2 weeks during the summer following her senior year of high school. Her doctor recommends starting a regimen of mefloquine before her trip for malaria prophylaxis rather than the traditional chloroquine because of widespread resistance to chloroquine. What is the mechanism of chloroquine resistance?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum is primarily due to increased efflux pumps (e.g., PfCRT), expelling the drug from the parasite’s digestive vacuole.
Question 3 of 5
A 24-year-old primigravid woman’s water breaks at 39 weeks gestation. Twenty-four hours later, she is having regular contractions 3 min apart. Her labor lasts 8 h. At the hospital, she gives birth to a baby boy, who initially appeared healthy. Within the next 12 h, the baby boy begins to have temperature fluctuations, difficulty breathing, and reduced movements. You suspect neonatal sepsis, so IV ampicillin is started. Which additional antibiotic could be given simultaneously to have a synergistic effect in controlling this infection?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Gentamicin, an aminoglycoside, synergizes with ampicillin (a β-lactam) in neonatal sepsis, covering gram-negative bacteria (e.g., E. coli) and enhancing bactericidal activity.
Question 4 of 5
A 19-year-old college student man presents to the student health service with a 2-week history of headache, malaise, sore throat, and dry cough, which has become productive over the last 4 days. He states that several of his dorm mates have complained of similar problems in the last few weeks. Pulmonary auscultation reveals scattered coarse rhonchi bilaterally. What is the best treatment for this patient?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Oral erythromycin is effective against Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a common cause of atypical pneumonia in young adults (e.g., college students), presenting with cough and rhonchi.
Question 5 of 5
A 12-year-old male complains of red plaques covered by silver scales on his elbows and knees. He has one older sister with similar lesions. In each case, the lesions are worse in the winter months. His pediatrician prescribes acitretin. Which of the following may this boy experience as a result of this treatment?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Acitretin, a retinoid for psoriasis, commonly causes alopecia (hair loss) due to its effects on epithelial cell turnover and differentiation.