ATI RN
ATI Pharmacology Made Easy 4.0 Infection Questions
Question 1 of 5
A 59-year-old man with a long history of cardiac arrhythmia is maintained on procainamide. He presents to his primary care physician complaining of malaise, fevers, and nausea. Physical examination reveals a bilateral malar rash with erythema. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Procainamide can induce a lupus-like syndrome . Symptoms (malaise, fever, nausea) and malar rash mimic SLE, a known side effect due to drug-induced autoantibodies. Contact dermatitis lacks systemic features. Sun reaction or discoid lupus don't fit the drug link. Collagen disease (E) is vague. This reversible syndrome resolves with discontinuation, distinguishing it from primary lupus.
Question 2 of 5
A 23-year-old man victim of a motor vehicle accident is brought to the emergency department. He is found to have a blood alcohol level of 850 mg/dL. Because of the way the body handles ethanol, the conventional 'half-life' to describe its metabolism does not apply. Which of the following drugs at therapeutic concentrations exhibits the same property?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Ethanol's zero-order metabolism matches phenytoin , saturating enzymes at therapeutic levels. Aspirin , ibuprofen , simvastatin , and valproic acid (E) follow first-order kinetics. Phenytoin's fixed-rate clearance mirrors ethanol's.
Question 3 of 5
Which antipsychotic agent has been most associated with significant QT interval prolongation and should be used with caution in patients with preexisting arrhythmias or patients taking other drugs associated with QT prolongation?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Thioridazine, a first-generation antipsychotic, potently blocks potassium channels, prolonging QT intervals and risking torsades de pointes, especially in patients with arrhythmias or on QT-prolonging drugs. This led to restricted use. Risperidone, asenapine, and lurasidone, second-generation agents, have milder QT effects. Aripiprazole is minimal. Thioridazine's strong association, evidenced by black box warnings, demands caution, making it the standout risk here.
Question 4 of 5
The client takes diphenhydramine (Benadryl) but forgets to tell the physician about this drug when a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) drug is prescribed for depression. What will the best assessment by the nurse reveal?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Diphenhydramine, an antihistamine with anticholinergic properties, interacts dangerously with MAOIs, which inhibit monoamine breakdown. This combination can cause a hypertensive crisis due to excessive norepinephrine from inhibited metabolism, a life-threatening risk requiring urgent assessment. Depression persistence relates to MAOI efficacy, not interaction. Seizures are less common than hypertensive effects. Allergy control isn't the primary concern. The nurse's best assessment focuses on hypertensive crisis, a well-documented MAOI interaction, prioritizing immediate safety and intervention.
Question 5 of 5
The nurse teaches the client about the difference between oral and nasal decongestants. The nurse evaluates that learning has been effective when the client makes which statement?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Oral decongestants risk hypertension , unlike nasal ones, showing effective learning. Nasal use beyond days causes rebound. Only nasal causes rebound . Efficacy varies. A reflects key differences, making it the best statement.