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A patient has been diagnosed with Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases (KPC). The nurse expects to see orders for which drug?

a. dapsone (Cubicin), a miscellaneous antibiotic
b. ciprofloxacin (Cipro), a quinolone
c. linezolid (Zyvox), an oxazolidinone
d. colistimethate sodium (Coly-Mycin), a polypeptide antibiotic

User Bistros
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Final answer:

The medication likely to be prescribed for a patient with a KPC-producing strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae is colistimethate sodium (Coly-Mycin), a polypeptide antibiotic effective against gram-negative, multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Step-by-step explanation:

A patient diagnosed with Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases (KPC) would likely be prescribed an antibiotic that is effective against carbapenem-resistant strains. From the provided options, colistimethate sodium (Coly-Mycin), a polypeptide antibiotic, is shown to be effective against these drug-resistant bacteria. The polypeptide antibiotic works by targeting the cell membrane of gram-negative bacteria, which includes the resistant K. pneumoniae. Other antibiotics listed, such as dapsone, ciprofloxacin, and linezolid, are not indicated for treating infections caused by carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae.

Polymyxins B and E (colistin) have been cited as effective against strains of K. pneumoniae that produce carbapenemases like the New Delhi Metallo-ß-lactamase (NDM). This enzyme confers high levels of resistance to various antibiotics including the carbapenems, making the infection difficult to treat. However, colistin remains one of the last-resort options for treating such infections due to its effectiveness against gram-negative bacteria, including those that are multidrug-resistant.

User Kuntal Ghosh
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