· Week 8 · Introduction · Resources · Discussion · Assignment · Quiz · Week In Review ☰Menu NURS 6521:ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY · Week 8 · Introduction · Resources · Discussion · Assignment · Quiz · Week In Review ☰Menu · × · NURS 6521:Advanced Pharmacology · Back to Blackboard · Syllabus · Course Calendar · Course Overview · Course Information · Resource List · Week 1 · Week 2 · Week 3 · Week 4 · Week 5 · Week 6 · Week 7 · Week 8 · Week 9 · Week 10 · Week 11 · Student Support · Walden Links · Guidelines and Policies · Back to Blackboard · Help Week 8: Infections Prior to the H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009, it had been more than 40 years since an infectious virus had resulted in such substantial illness, hospitalizations, and deaths on a global scale (CDC, 2010). This can be attributed to improved prevention such as proper hygiene, as well as vaccinations and other drug therapies. However, as the H1N1 pandemic illustrates, infections are sometimes unavoidable even when appropriate prevention methods are implemented. In clinical settings, patients present with various infections including common disorders such as flus and colds, as well as disorders that require more extensive treatment and care such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or tuberculosis (TB). As an advanced practice nurse, you must evaluate patients presenting with symptoms of infections and recommend appropriate drug treatments. This week you begin to explore infections by considering issues surrounding the prevalence, management, and education about HIV/AIDS. You also examine viral and bacterial infections, as well as the appropriate use of antimicrobial agents. Learning Objectives By the end of this week, students will: · Analyze reasons for the prevalence of HIV/AIDS · Analyze ways health care professionals can change society’s perceptions of HIV/AIDS · Analyze strategies to educate HIV positive patients on treatment and management · Analyze categories of antimicrobial agents · Differentiate between viral and bacterial infections · Analyze the relationship between infections and antimicrobial agents · Understand and apply key terms, concepts, and principles related to prescribing drugs to treat infections and infestations Photo Credit: E.M. Pasieka/ Science Photo Library/Getty Images Learning Resources This page contains the Learning Resources for this week. Be sure to scroll down the page to see all of this week's assigned Learning Resources. To access select media resources, please use the media player below. Required Readings Note: To access this week's required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus. Arcangelo, V. P., & Peterson, A. M. (Eds.). (2013). Pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice: A practical approach (3rd ed.). Ambler, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. · Chapter 8, “Principles of Antimicrobial Therapy” (pp. 96–117)  This chapter covers factors that impact the .

1. ·
Week 8
· Introduction
· Resources
· Discussion
· Assignment
· Quiz
· Week In Review
☰Menu
NURS 6521:ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY
· Week 8
· Introduction
· Resources
· Discussion
· Assignment
· Quiz
· Week In Review
☰Menu
· ×
· NURS 6521:Advanced Pharmacology
· Back to Blackboard
· Syllabus
· Course Calendar
· Course Overview
· Course Information
· Resource List
· Week 1
· Week 2
· Week 3
· Week 4
· Week 5
· Week 6
· Week 7

2. · Week 8
· Week 9
· Week 10
· Week 11
· Student Support
· Walden Links
· Guidelines and Policies
· Back to Blackboard
· Help
Week 8: Infections
Prior to the H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009, it had been more
than 40 years since an infectious virus had resulted in such
substantial illness, hospitalizations, and deaths on a global scale
(CDC, 2010). This can be attributed to improved prevention
such as proper hygiene, as well as vaccinations and other drug
therapies. However, as the H1N1 pandemic illustrates,
infections are sometimes unavoidable even when appropriate
prevention methods are implemented. In clinical settings,
patients present with various infections including common
disorders such as flus and colds, as well as disorders that
require more extensive treatment and care such as the human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or tuberculosis (TB). As an
advanced practice nurse, you must evaluate patients presenting
with symptoms of infections and recommend appropriate drug
treatments.
This week you begin to explore infections by considering issues
surrounding the prevalence, management, and education about
HIV/AIDS. You also examine viral and bacterial infections, as
well as the appropriate use of antimicrobial agents.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this week, students will:
· Analyze reasons for the prevalence of HIV/AIDS
· Analyze ways health care professionals can change society’s
perceptions of HIV/AIDS
· Analyze strategies to educate HIV positive patients on

3. treatment and management
· Analyze categories of antimicrobial agents
· Differentiate between viral and bacterial infections
· Analyze the relationship between infections and antimicrobial
agents
· Understand and apply key terms, concepts, and principles
related to prescribing drugs to treat infections and infestations
Photo Credit: E.M. Pasieka/ Science Photo Library/Getty
Images
Learning Resources
This page contains the Learning Resources for this week. Be
sure to scroll down the page to see all of this week's assigned
Learning Resources. To access select media resources, please
use the media player below.
Required Readings
Note: To access this week's required library resources, please
click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in
the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.
Arcangelo, V. P., & Peterson, A. M. (Eds.). (2013).
Pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice: A practical
approach (3rd ed.). Ambler, PA: Lippincott Williams &
Wilkins.
· Chapter 8, “Principles of Antimicrobial Therapy” (pp. 96–
117)
This chapter covers factors that impact the selection of an
antimicrobial treatment regimen. It also examines the clinical
uses, adverse events, and drug interactions of various
antimicrobial agents such as penicillin.
· Chapter 12, “Fungal Infections of the Skin” (pp. 141–149)
This chapter explores the pathophysiology of several fungal
infections of the skin as well as related drug treatments and
examines the importance of patient education when managing
these infections.

4. · Chapter 14, “Bacterial Infections of the Skin” (pp. 158–172)
This chapter begins by examining causes of bacterial infections.
It then explores the importance of selecting an appropriate agent
for treating bacterial infections.
· Chapter 32, “Urinary Tract Infection” (pp. 474–480)
This chapter covers drugs used to treat urinary tract infections
and identifies special considerations when treating geriatric
patients, pediatric patients, and women.
· Chapter 35, “Sexually Transmitted Infections” (pp. 512–535)
This chapter outlines the causes, pathophysiology, and drug
treatment of six sexually transmitted infections, including
gonorrhea, syphilis, and human papilloma virus infection
(HPV). It also examines the importance of selecting the proper
agent and monitoring patient response to treatment.
· Chapter 48, “Human Immunodeficiency Virus” (pp. 748–762)
This chapter presents the causes, pathophysiology, diagnostic
criteria, and prevention methods for HIV. It also covers various
methods of drug treatment and patient factors to consider when
selecting, administering, and managing drug treatments.
Krummenacher, I., Cavassini, M., Bugnon, O., & Schneider, M.
(2011). An interdisciplinary HIV-adherence program combining
motivational interviewing and electronic antiretroviral drug
monitoring. AIDS Care, 23(5), 550–561.
Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
This article analyzes medication adherence in HIV patients and
examines factors that increase adherence as well as factors that
contribute to termination or discontinuation of treatment.
Drugs.com. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.drugs.com/
This website presents a comprehensive review of prescription
and over-the-counter drugs including information on common

5. uses and potential side effects. It also provides updates relating
to new drugs on the market, support from health professionals,
and a drug-drug interactions checker.
Scourfield, A., Waters, L., & Nelson, M. (2011). Drug
combinations for HIV: What's new? Expert Review of Anti-
Infective Therapy, 9(11), 1001–1011.
Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
This article examines current therapies and strategies for
treating HIV patients. It also examines factors that impact
selection of therapy, including drug interactions,
personalization of therapy, costs, management of comorbidities,
and patient response.
Required Media
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2012).
Antimicrobials. Baltimore, MD: Author.
This media presentation outlines principles of antimicrobial
therapy
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 7 minutes.
Optional Resources
Mayer, K. H., & Krakower, D. (2012). Antiretroviral medication
and HIV prevention: New steps forward and New Questions.
Annals of Internal Medicine, 156(4), 312–314.
Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Assignment:
Antimicrobial Agents
Antimicrobial agents are essential components in the treatment
of various bacterial infections as they help to kill or prevent the
growth of microbes such as bacteria, fungi, and protozoans.
Prior to the discovery of antimicrobial agents, treatment options

6. for patients with bacterial infections were limited. For many
patients, treatment often resulted in the amputation of limbs or
even death. Today, treatment options for bacterial infections
typically have a more positive prognosis. Due to the various
types of infections presented in patients, it is essential to be
able to identify the underlying cause of the infection—whether
bacterial or viral—before recommending drug treatments. This
will help you identify whether or not an antimicrobial agent
would be appropriate and which specific agent would target the
infection. In this Assignment, you consider the appropriate use
of antimicrobial agents for infections.To prepare:
· Review this week’s media presentation on principles of
antimicrobial therapy, as well as Chapter 8 of the Arcangelo and
Peterson text.
· Consider the categories of antimicrobial agents.
· Think about differences between viral and bacterial infections.
· Reflect on why proper identification of the infection is key to
selecting the proper antimicrobial agent.By Day 7
Write a 2- to 3- page paper that addresses the following:
· Describe the categories of antimicrobial agents.
· Describe differences between viral and bacterial infections.
· Explain why proper identification of viral and bacterial
infections is key to selecting the proper antimicrobial agent.
Reminder: The School of Nursing requires that all papers
submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and
references. The Sample Paper provided at the Walden Writing
Center provides an example of those required elements
(available at http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/57.htm). All
papers submitted must use this formatting.
Week 8: Infections
Prior to the H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009, it had been more
than 40 years since an infectious virus had resulted in such

7. substantial illness, hospitalizations, and deaths on a global scale
(CDC, 2010). This can be attributed to improved prevention
such as proper hygiene, as well as vaccinations and other drug
therapies. However, as the H1N1 pandemic illustrates,
infections are sometimes unavoidable even when appropriate
prevention methods are implemented. In clinical settings,
patients present with various infections including common
disorders such as flus and colds, as well as disorders that
require more extensive treatment and care such as the human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or tuberculosis (TB). As an
advanced practice nurse, you must evaluate patients presenting
with symptoms of infections and recommend appropriate drug
treatments.
This week you begin to explore infections by considering issues
surrounding the prevalence, management, and education about
HIV/AIDS. You also examine viral and bacterial infections, as
well as the appropriate use of antimicrobial agents.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this week, students will:
· Analyze reasons for the prevalence of HIV/AIDS
· Analyze ways health care professionals can change society’s
perceptions of HIV/AIDS
· Analyze strategies to educate HIV positive patients on
treatment and management
· Analyze categories of antimicrobial agents
· Differentiate between viral and bacterial infections
· Analyze the relationship between infections and antimicrobial
agents
· Understand and apply key terms, concepts, and principles
related to prescribing drugs to treat infections and infestations
Photo Credit: E.M. Pasieka/ Science Photo Library/Getty
Images
Learning Resources
This page contains the Learning Resources for this week. Be
sure to scroll down the page to see all of this week's assigned

8. Learning Resources. To access select media resources, please
use the media player below.
Required Readings
Note: To access this week's required library resources, please
click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in
the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.
Arcangelo, V. P., & Peterson, A. M. (Eds.). (2013).
Pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice: A practical
approach (3rd ed.). Ambler, PA: Lippincott Williams &
Wilkins.
· Chapter 8, “Principles of Antimicrobial Therapy” (pp. 96–
117)
This chapter covers factors that impact the selection of an
antimicrobial treatment regimen. It also examines the clinical
uses, adverse events, and drug interactions of various
antimicrobial agents such as penicillin.
· Chapter 12, “Fungal Infections of the Skin” (pp. 141–149)
This chapter explores the pathophysiology of several fungal
infections of the skin as well as related drug treatments and
examines the importance of patient education when managing
these infections.
· Chapter 14, “Bacterial Infections of the Skin” (pp. 158–172)
This chapter begins by examining causes of bacterial infections.
It then explores the importance of selecting an appropriate agent
for treating bacterial infections.
· Chapter 32, “Urinary Tract Infection” (pp. 474–480)
This chapter covers drugs used to treat urinary tract infections
and identifies special considerations when treating geriatric
patients, pediatric patients, and women.
· Chapter 35, “Sexually Transmitted Infections” (pp. 512–535)
This chapter outlines the causes, pathophysiology, and drug
treatment of six sexually transmitted infections, including

9. gonorrhea, syphilis, and human papilloma virus infection
(HPV). It also examines the importance of selecting the proper
agent and monitoring patient response to treatment.
· Chapter 48, “Human Immunodeficiency Virus” (pp. 748–762)
This chapter presents the causes, pathophysiology, diagnostic
criteria, and prevention methods for HIV. It also covers various
methods of drug treatment and patient factors to consider when
selecting, administering, and managing drug treatments.
Krummenacher, I., Cavassini, M., Bugnon, O., & Schneider, M.
(2011). An interdisciplinary HIV-adherence program combining
motivational interviewing and electronic antiretroviral drug
monitoring. AIDS Care, 23(5), 550–561.
Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
This article analyzes medication adherence in HIV patients and
examines factors that increase adherence as well as factors that
contribute to termination or discontinuation of treatment.
Drugs.com. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.drugs.com/
This website presents a comprehensive review of prescription
and over-the-counter drugs including information on common
uses and potential side effects. It also provides updates relating
to new drugs on the market, support from health professionals,
and a drug-drug interactions checker.
Scourfield, A., Waters, L., & Nelson, M. (2011). Drug
combinations for HIV: What's new? Expert Review of Anti-
Infective Therapy, 9(11), 1001–1011.
Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
This article examines current therapies and strategies for
treating HIV patients. It also examines factors that impact
selection of therapy, including drug interactions,
personalization of therapy, costs, management of comorbidities,

10. and patient response.
Required Media
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2012).
Antimicrobials. Baltimore, MD: Author.
This media presentation outlines principles of antimicrobial
therapy
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 7 minutes.
Optional Resources
Mayer, K. H., & Krakower, D. (2012). Antiretroviral medication
and HIV prevention: New steps forward and New Questions.
Annals of Internal Medicine, 156(4), 312–314.
Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
In addition, refer to the Optional Resources listed in Week 1.
Discussion: Drug Treatments for HIV/AIDS
While HIV/AIDS is still currently incurable, the prognosis for
patients with this infectious disease has improved due to
advancements in drug treatments. Consider the case of Kristy
Aney. Kristy was diagnosed with HIV in 1992 and was told she
would survive, at most, 10 more years. Despite unfavorable
odds, Kristy is still alive 20 years later. Since her diagnosis, she
has witnessed tremendous improvements in HIV/AIDS
treatments which have helped patients live longer with fewer
side effects. While she acknowledges that these drug treatments
have kept her alive, she fears that improvements in drug therapy
have led to more people becoming complacent about the disease
(Idaho Statesmen, 2012). In fact, the number of people living
with HIV/AIDS in the United States is higher than it has ever
been (CDC, 2012). This poses the question: Is there a
relationship between drug advancements, societal complacency,
and infection?
To prepare:

11. · Review Chapter 48 of the Arcangelo and Peterson text, as well
as the Krummenacher et al. and Scourfield articles in the
Learning Resources.
· Reflect on whether or not the prevalence of HIV cases might
be attributed to increased complacency due to more advanced
drug treatment options for HIV/AIDS.
· Consider how health care professionals can help to change
perceptions and make people more aware of the realities of the
disease.
· Think about strategies to educate HIV positive patients on
medication adherence, as well as safe practices to reduce the
risk of infecting others.
With these thoughts in mind:
By Day 3
Post an explanation of whether or not you think the prevalence
of HIV cases might be attributed to increased complacency due
to more advanced drug treatment options.Then, explain how
health care professionals can help to change perceptions and
increase awareness of the realities of the disease. Finally,
describe strategies to educate HIV positive patients on
medication adherence, as well as safe practices to reduce the
risk of infecting others.