Antiprotozoals are agents used to treat protozoan infections. Protozoan infections are common in tropical areas. Protozoans are single-celled organisms that pass through several stages in their life cycles, including at least one phase as a human parasite. While protozoans thrive in tropical climate, they may also survive and reproduce in any area where people live in very crowded and unsanitary conditions. Show
Antiprotozoal Drugs: Generic and Brand NamesHere is a table of commonly encountered antiprotozoals, their generic names, and brand names:
Disease Spotlight: Protozoal DiseasesMalaria
Amebiasis
Leishmaniasis
Trypanosomiasis
Trichomoniasis
Giardiasis
Antimalarials
Therapeutic ActionThe desired and beneficial action of antimalarials is:
IndicationsAntimalarials are indicated for the following medical conditions:
Here are some important aspects to remember for indication antiprotozoals in different age groups: Children
Adults
Older adults
PharmacokineticsHere are the characteristic interactions of antimalarials and the body in terms of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion:
Contraindications and CautionsThe following are contraindications and cautions for the use of antimalarials:
Adverse EffectsUse of antimalarials may result to these adverse effects:
InteractionsThe following are drug-drug interactions involved in the use of antimalarials:
Nursing ConsiderationsHere are important nursing considerations when administering antimalarials: Nursing AssessmentThese are the important things the nurse should include in conducting assessment, history taking, and examination:
Nursing DiagnosesHere are some of the nursing diagnoses that can be formulated in the use of these drugs for therapy:
Implementation with RationaleThese are vital nursing interventions done in patients who are taking antimalarials:
EvaluationHere are aspects of care that should be evaluated to determine effectiveness of drug therapy:
Therapeutic ActionThe desired and beneficial action of other antiprotozoal agents is:
IndicationsOther antiprotozoal agents are indicated for the following medical conditions:
PharmacokineticsHere are the characteristic interactions of other antiprotozoal agents and the body in terms of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion:
Contraindications and CautionsThe following are contraindications and cautions for the use of other antiprotozoal agents:
Adverse EffectsUse of other antiprotozoal agents may result to these adverse effects:
InteractionsThe following are drug-drug interactions involved in the use of other antiprotozoal agents:
Nursing ConsiderationsHere are important nursing considerations when administering other antiprotozoal agents: Nursing AssessmentThese are the important things the nurse should include in conducting assessment, history taking, and examination:
Nursing DiagnosesHere are some of the nursing diagnoses that can be formulated in the use of these drugs for therapy:
Implementation with RationaleThese are vital nursing interventions done in patients who are taking other antiprotozoal agents:
EvaluationHere are aspects of care that should be evaluated to determine effectiveness of drug therapy:
Practice Test: Antiprotozoal AgentsPractice quiz for this nursing pharmacology study guide. Please visit our nursing test bank page for more NCLEX practice questions. 1. Chagas’ disease is passed to humans by which of the following vector? A. female Anopheles mosquito 1. Answer: B. housefly. Option A is for malaria while option C is for African sleeping sickness. 2. Which of the following patient statements should alert the nurse for possible high levels of quinine? A. “I feel weak, especially after ambulating.” 2. Answer: C. “When I went out of my bed, it felt like the room swayed.” This might be vertigo which is part of the constellation of manifestations of cinchonism which is associated with high levels of quinine or primaquine. 3. A traveler diagnosed with malaria is also receiving sulfonamide for a respiratory infection. What should the nurse watch out for in this drug combination? A. increased intracranial pressure 3. Answer: C. blood component levels. This combination can lead to bone marrow suppression. 4. How many days should the patient avoid alcohol after treatment with metronidazole? A. 1 day 4. Answer: B. 3 days. 5. Disulfiram and tinidazole therapy can lead to increased psychotic reactions. How long after tinidazole therapy can we safely start disulfiram therapy? A.
7-10 days 5. Answer. B. 14 days. Recommended ResourcesRecommended resources and reference books. Disclosure: Includes Amazon affiliate links.
See AlsoHere are other nursing pharmacology study guides:
Gastrointestinal System Drugs
Respiratory System Drugs
Endocrine System Drugs
Autonomic Nervous System Drugs
Immune System Drugs
Chemotherapeutic Agents
Reproductive System Drugs
Nervous System Drugs
Cardiovascular System Drugs
References and SourcesReferences and sources for this pharmacology guide for Antiprotozoal Drugs:
What is the action of primaquine?Primaquine kills the intrahepatic form of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale, and thereby prevents the development of the erythrocytic forms that are responsible for relapses (it also kills gametocytes). Primaquine is not used in the prevention of malaria, only in the treatment.
What is the side effect of primaquine?Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, stomach upset, and abdominal cramps may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Why do we give primaquine?Primaquine is used alone or with another medication to treat malaria (a serious infection that is spread by mosquitoes in certain parts of the world and can cause death) and to prevent the disease from coming back in people that are infected with malaria. Primaquine is in a class of medications called antimalarials.
When do you give primaquine?vivax and ovale species. It is recommended that 0.5 mg base/kg/d of primaquine (maximum 30 mg per day) should be started one day before exposure and continued daily till seven days after the end of exposure [1].
|