This nursing pharmacology review provides a high-yield overview of the most important antibiotic classes used in clinical practice. The video explains how common antibiotics work, what infections they treat, and the major nursing considerations associated with each class. Key topics include penicillins, cephalosporins, macrolides, fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, vancomycin, aminoglycosides, and sulfonamides. Emphasis is placed on side effects, black box warnings, allergy considerations, renal dosing, patient counseling, and critical monitoring parameters nurses should recognize in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
You can find the full 16+ hour nursing pharmacology review course, including PDF handouts, cheat sheets, practice questions, and on-demand videos at meded101.com!
Cefepime is a fourth-generation cephalosporin antibiotic with broad-spectrum activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It works by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis through binding to penicillin-binding proteins, leading to cell lysis and death.
Clinically, cefepime is commonly used in hospital settings for serious infections such as pneumonia, febrile neutropenia, urinary tract infections, skin infections, and intra-abdominal infections. It’s typically administered intravenously, with doses often ranging from 1 to 2 grams every 8 to 12 hours depending on the indication and renal function.
From a pharmacokinetic standpoint, cefepime is primarily renally eliminated, so dose adjustments are required in patients with impaired kidney function. Failure to reduce the dose appropriately can lead to neurotoxicity — one of the key adverse effects associated with cefepime — manifesting as encephalopathy, confusion, myoclonus, or seizures, particularly in elderly or renally impaired patients.
Common side effects include gastrointestinal upset and rash. Cefepime has relatively limited drug interactions, though concurrent nephrotoxic agents can increase the risk of renal injury.
On this podcast episode, I discuss cephalexin pharmacology, adverse effects, drug interactions, and much more!
Penicillin allergies and cross-reactivity are common questions with regard to the use of cephalexin and I discuss this briefly in the podcast episode.
Cephalexin is a first-generation cephalosporin with its primary sweet spot being gram-positive bacteria like Staph and Strep species.
Warfarin, probenecid, zinc, and a couple of others are potential medications that can interact with cephalexin. I discuss this further in this podcast episode.
