IV Antibiotics:    Focus on Cellulitis

Post-Test


A. Cellulitis may best be defined as:

1. A skin infection that spreads from the skin to underlying tissues
2. An infection that may develop where the skin has broken
3. An infection that can result in sepsis or bacteremia
4. Most often caused by bacterial or fungal infections
5. All of the above

B. Organisms that most often cause cellulitis are:

1. Streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus
2. Streptococci and Aeromonas hydrophilia
3. Gram-negative rods and fungi
4. Pneumococcus and Aeromonas hydrophilia
5. 1 and 3 only

C. According to Grayson et al.:

1. Antibiotic therapy has not been readily accepted in individuals with complicated cellulitis
2. Cost is a consideration when selecting effective treatment options for moderate to severe cellulitis
3. There was a difference in the success/cure rate when comparing use of Ceftriazone and Cefazolin
4. Continuous infusion of any antibiotic is preferred to a once-daily administration
5. Intravenous antibiotic therapy of a third generation Ceftriaxone is preferred to a first generation Cefazolin in the treatment of cellulitis

D. Indicate which of the following of the following is true according to the article written by Howden and Grayson:

1. A growing range of infections can be safely and effectively treated with parenteral antimicrobial therapy
2. Antibiotic selection should be based on appropriate prescribing principles rather than dosing convenience alone
3. Patients seen in the emergency room must be admitted to the hospital for antibiotic administration of first dose before initiating home intravenous antibiotic therapy
4. Patients should be followed weekly to monitor adverse reactions
5. Home dosing regimens include once-daily aminoglycosides, continuous-infusion of fluclozacillin, once or twice daily cephalosporins

E. Continuous infusion of flucloxacillin provides an alternative form of home-based treatment of cellulitis due to:

1. Insurance reductions in the amount of coverage for treatment of cellulitis
2. More patients are being sent home with PICC lines
3. The failure of the FDA to approve new drugs on a timely basis
4. The need to discharge patients for cost-effective measures
5. 2 and 4 only

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