More questions on this topic
More questions on this topic ( 16 Questions)
A nurse is caring for a newborn who has received erythromycin eye ointment as prophylaxis for ophthalmia neonatorum.
What should the nurse monitor for as a potential adverse reaction to this medication?
Erythromycin eye ointment is an antibiotic that can cause allergic reactions in some newborns, such as irritation, redness, swelling, or cloudy eyes.
This is a potential adverse reaction to this medication that the nurse should monitor for.
Glaucoma is a condition that causes increased pressure in the eye and can damage the optic nerve.
It is not caused by erythromycin eye ointment.
Cataracts are a condition that causes clouding of the lens of the eye and can impair vision.
It is not caused by erythromycin eye ointment.
Strabismus is a condition that causes misalignment of the eyes and can affect depth perception.
It is not caused by erythromycin eye ointment.
Erythromycin eye ointment is used to prevent ophthalmia neonatorum, which is an infection of the eye surface that affects newborns within the first month of life. It can be caused by bacteria such as chlamydia or gonorrhea that can enter the baby’s eyes during childbirth and cause permanent damage to the corneas. Erythromycin eye ointment can help prevent vision loss caused by these bacteria.
The correct answer is choice A. Hypersensitivity. Erythromycin eye ointment is an antibiotic that can cause allergic reactions in some newborns, such as irritation, redness, swelling, or cloudy eyes.
This is a potential adverse reaction to this medication that the nurse should monitor for.
Choice B. Glaucoma is wrong because glaucoma is a condition that causes increased pressure in the eye and can damage the optic nerve.
It is not caused by erythromycin eye ointment.
Choice C. Cataracts is wrong because cataracts are a condition that causes clouding of the lens of the eye and can impair vision.
It is not caused by erythromycin eye ointment.
Choice D. Strabismus is wrong because strabismus is a condition that causes misalignment of the eyes and can affect depth perception.
It is not caused by erythromycin eye ointment.
Erythromycin eye ointment is used to prevent ophthalmia neonatorum, which is an infection of the eye surface that affects newborns within the first month of life. It can be caused by bacteria such as chlamydia or gonorrhea that can enter the baby’s eyes during childbirth and cause permanent damage to the corneas. Erythromycin eye ointment can help prevent vision loss caused by these bacteria.