A nurse is caring for a patient with swine flu and she has to give the drug of choice for swine flu, which is?

Appeared in: NHM UP Staff Nurse - 2017

Explanation

Oseltamivir is the drug of choice for treating Swine Flu (Influenza A H1N1).
It is a neuraminidase inhibitor, which works by blocking the viral enzyme needed for the release of new virus particles from infected cells, thus halting the spread of the infection.
It is active against both influenza A and B viruses.
For maximum effectiveness, treatment should be initiated within 48 hours of symptom onset.

Option A: Acyclovir is an antiviral medication used to treat infections caused by the herpes virus family, not the influenza virus.
Option B: Adefovir is an antiviral drug specifically used for the treatment of chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.
Option C: Cidofovir is a potent antiviral used for Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis, particularly in immunocompromised patients like those with AIDS.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Pharmacological treatment for Swine Flu (Influenza A H1N1) to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Nurses must be able to identify the correct antiviral for specific viral illnesses to ensure effective treatment and prevent antimicrobial resistance.
A key nursing responsibility is implementing appropriate isolation precautions. For influenza, this means Droplet Precautions to prevent transmission to other patients and healthcare workers.
Patient education on medication administration is crucial. Advising patients to take Oseltamivir with food can improve adherence by minimizing common side effects like nausea.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key condition in the question: 'swine flu'. Recognize that swine flu is a type of Influenza A (H1N1).
The question asks for the 'drug of choice'. This requires recalling the specific pharmacological agent used to treat this condition.
Review the options, which are all antiviral drugs. Your task is to differentiate their primary indications.
Recall or deduce that Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) is a neuraminidase inhibitor specifically targeting influenza viruses.
Eliminate the other options by remembering their main uses: Acyclovir for herpes, Adefovir for Hepatitis B, and Cidofovir for CMV.
Confirm your choice. Oseltamivir is the standard treatment for Influenza A and B, including the H1N1 strain.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QisJXsWPgjPFe_L96ScsfE

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

E6 Pharmacology Nursing Lilley 11e Part 3 p. 12-14

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 1578-1580

Practise the full NHM UP Staff Nurse - 2017

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