Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 93%
Simulated
The nurse is asked why neomycin is given as a bowel prep before GI surgery. The nurse correctly replies that:
Correct answer
B
Rationale
The correct answer is B. Neomycin is given as a bowel prep before GI surgery to reduce intestinal bacteria, which lowers the risk of postoperative infections. This is important because the presence of bacteria in the intestines can lead to complications such as peritonitis or wound infections. By decreasing the bacterial load in the bowel before surgery, the likelihood of these complications occurring is minimized. Choice A is incorrect because starting antibiotic therapy 4 days before surgery is not specifically related to neomycin as a bowel prep. Choice C is incorrect as bacteria in the bowel can be reduced with the use of antibiotics. Choice D is incorrect because anesthesia does not make the bowel resistant to antibiotics.