While investigating the medications taken by a client in the hospital, the student nurse understands that Zosyn (piperacillin/tazobactam) has an extended spectrum compared to other penicillins for which of the following reasons?
A) Neither drug is able to cross the placenta well.
B) Tazobactam inhibits an enzyme that destroys penicillins.
C) The half-life of the combined drugs is over 6 hr.
D) Pipercillin is highly metabolized with less than 10% excreted in an unchanged form.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Tazobactam inhibits an enzyme called beta-lactamase, which is responsible for destroying penicillins. By inhibiting this enzyme, piperacillin can exert its antimicrobial effects against a wider range of bacteria, giving it an extended spectrum compared to other penicillins. The other answer choices are incorrect and/or irrelevant to the question.

While Investigating the Medications Taken by a Client in the Hospital