Final answer:
The Z-track technique is associated with intramuscular drug administration. It is important when a drug is poorly absorbed orally and intravenous or intramuscular parenteral administration is needed, which is usually performed under health care supervision.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Z-track technique is utilized during intramuscular drug administration. This method helps to seal the medication in the muscle tissue and prevents it from leaking into subcutaneous tissue, which reduces irritation and ensures better absorption of the medication into the bloodstream.
Regarding convenient routes for home administration of an antimicrobial to treat a systemic infection, oral administration (A) is often the most appropriate and convenient choice. However, in cases when the drug is not absorbed well in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, parenteral administration (which includes intravenous or intramuscular injection) is preferred. Typically, parenteral administration is carried out in health-care settings due to the need for sterile techniques and professional training. Intravenous administration tends to achieve substantially higher plasma levels of the drug than oral or intramuscular routes, which can be a critical factor in treating infections.