- Hypotension
- Tachycardia (fast heart rate)
- Difficulty breathing
- Sweating
- Flushed face
Some medications include alcohol and the patient should be advised to check
the labels carefully if taking one of these cephalosporins.
Besides alcohol, some cephalosporins (cefamandole, cefmetazole, cefopera-
zone, or cefotetan) expose the patient to an increased risk of hemorrhaging if
administered with anticoagulants such as coumarin or indanedione, heparin,
and with clot-busting drugs such as thrombolytics. The same adverse reaction
might occur if the patient takes NSAIDs, especially aspirin, or sulfinpyrazone
(Anturane) while on cephalosporins.
Probenecid (Benemid) may extend the half-life of cephalosporins and can
result in toxicity. However, cephalosporins and probenecid are sometimes given
together to treat sexually transmitted diseases when a high serum level and pro-
longed level of cephalosporins are desirable.
A patient who is undergoing treatment with cephalosporins might experience
other problems. These are a fever and rash brought about by hypersensivity,
an allergic reaction such as anaphylaxis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, renal dys-
function, serum sickness-like reaction, or seizures.
Cephalosporins,
Nursing Diagnosis, and
Collaborative Problems
Here are the common nursing diagnoses that are related to a patient who is
receiving cephalosporins.
- Altered bowel elimination pattern related to antibiotic-associated pseudo-
membranous colitis - Risk for superinfection
- Altered protection related to hypoprothrombinemia and superinfection
CHAPTER 13 Antimicrobials—Fighting Infection^217