Final answer:
Vancomycin is a suitable IV antibiotic for patients with beta-lactam allergies as it has a different mode of action and does not share the beta-lactam ring that is typically responsible for these allergies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student asks which IV antibiotic can be given to a patient with a beta-lactam allergy. Among the options provided, Vancomycin can be administered to patients allergic to beta-lactams. Beta-lactams are a class of antibiotics which include penicillins, cephalosporins, and others that contain a beta-lactam ring in their molecular structures. Vancomycin, a glycopeptide antibiotic, is structurally different from beta-lactams and functions by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis through a different mechanism. This makes it a suitable alternative for patients with beta-lactam allergies.
Other non-beta lactam antibiotics that could be considered for patients with such allergies include macrolides (e.g., Azithromycin), tetracyclines, and aminoglycosides (e.g., Gentamicin). However, it is important to select an antibiotic based on the type of infection and the susceptibility pattern of the causative microorganism. In cases of serious infections where beta-lactam antibiotics are typically used, such as endocarditis or MRSA infections, Vancomycin is often the drug of choice.