Renal Question #40

Question

The nurse is teaching a client with a urinary tract infection about use of nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin). The nurse will include which instructions on this medication?

Answers

1. The medication may cause rust-brownish color to the urine.
2. The drug does not cause photosensitivity.
3. Client may take the drug with antacids if gastric upset occurs.
4. It is a narrow antibiotic effective with only gram positive bacteria.

Explanation

Nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin, Macrobid, Furadantoin) may cause rust-brownish color to urine. The drug DOES cause photosensitivity as an adverse reaction. Taking with antacids will decrease absorption of the drug. The drug is sensitive against many gram-negative and some gram-positive bacteria such as E-coli, klebsiella, neisseria, salmonella, sheigella, stagphlococcus areus, and enterococcus.