Question

Azithromycin (Zithromax) is an Macrolide agent. Which of the

following would be most important for the nurse to educate the
client about when taking this drug?
1. This drug can cause side effects that

Answer 1

The most important points for a nurse to educate a client about when taking Azithromycin include the proper dosage, administration schedule to prevent drug resistance, and potential side effects.

Step-by-step explanation:

The macrolide agent Azithromycin (Zithromax) is an important antibiotic used to treat various bacterial infections by inhibiting protein synthesis. This drug binds to the 50S subunit of bacterial ribosomes, thereby preventing the elongation of protein chains which is crucial for bacterial growth and survival. Azithromycin is a broad-spectrum, bacteriostatic drug that is especially effective against organisms like Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which are not inhibited by drugs like amoxicillin that target peptidoglycan because they lack a cell wall.

When educating a client about taking azithromycin, the most important point to emphasize is the correct dosage and administration schedule to prevent the development of drug resistance and ensure the effectiveness of the treatment. In addition, the client should be alerted to potential side effects of the medication, such as gastrointestinal upset or, in rare cases, more serious conditions like hepatotoxicity with related drugs. Although azithromycin is generally well-tolerated, with fewer side effects and a longer half-life compared to erythromycin, allowing for once-daily dosing.