A 40-year-old patient has a severe illness from H2N2 infection. Which of the following medicines should be given to them?

Appeared in: MP CHO - 2022

Explanation

H2N2 is a subtype of the Influenza A virus, a respiratory pathogen that requires antiviral therapy.
Oseltamivir is an antiviral medication specifically designed to treat infections caused by both Influenza A and B viruses.
It functions as a neuraminidase inhibitor, a mechanism that blocks the virus from being released from infected cells, thereby stopping its spread in the body.
For severe or complicated influenza, as stated in the question, Oseltamivir is considered the drug of choice, even if treatment is started after 48 hours of symptom onset.

Option A: Chloramphenicol is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used for serious bacterial infections. It has no activity against viruses like H2N2.
Option B: Benzylpenicillin is a penicillin-class antibiotic effective against specific bacterial infections, particularly those caused by gram-positive organisms. It is ineffective against any virus.
Option D: Acyclovir is an antiviral drug, but its spectrum of activity is limited to the herpesvirus family (e.g., Herpes Simplex, Varicella-Zoster). It does not inhibit the neuraminidase enzyme of the influenza virus.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Pharmacological treatment for influenza virus infections to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
A core nursing responsibility is to understand the difference between bacterial and viral infections to anticipate appropriate treatments and educate patients, particularly regarding the misuse of antibiotics for viral illnesses.
For influenza, prompt initiation of antiviral therapy (ideally within 48 hours) is crucial for effectiveness. However, for hospitalized patients with severe disease, treatment is still beneficial and recommended.
Nurses should instruct patients to take Oseltamivir with food to reduce common gastrointestinal side effects like nausea and vomiting, which improves medication adherence.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the pathogen in the question: H2N2 is a subtype of the Influenza A virus.
Recognize that a viral infection requires an antiviral medication, not an antibiotic. This allows you to immediately question options like Chloramphenicol and Benzylpenicillin.
Next, differentiate between the antiviral options provided (Oseltamivir and Acyclovir) based on their specific targets.
Recall that Acyclovir is primarily used for the herpesvirus family.
Recall that Oseltamivir is a neuraminidase inhibitor specifically designed for influenza viruses.
Conclude by matching the specific drug (Oseltamivir) to the specific virus (Influenza A/H2N2).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 1529-1531

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 1961-1963

Practise the full MP CHO - 2022

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.