Intravenous Antibiotics: Where We Are and Where We're Going – Antivirals

This instructional course has been designed for nurses administering and/or caring for the patient receiving intravenous antiviral agents. Antiviral antibiotics have only been available for less than 70 years but antiviral resistance has already forced an ever-increasing arsenal of drugs. In this often changing landscape, the nurse needs a working knowledge of the antimicrobial agents available, and competency to infuse these medications in all the various administration systems in use today. This course examines the available intravenous antiviral medications.

State Boards of Nursing have varying positions on the role of the LPN/LVN in the administration of infusion therapy, including the administration of antimicrobial agents. A link to each state board of nursing is listed here. Competency requirements are obtained and maintained through the nurse’s employer, facility or institution. This course provides 1.50 contact hours of continuing education.

Questions? Check out our FAQs page and How Online IV Certification Works!

Objectives

Upon completion of this curriculum, the participant will be able to:

  1. Describe the mechanisms of viral infection in a human host.
  2. Describe the use of various intravenous antiviral delivery systems.
  3. Identify the indications, proper administration, and side effects of available intravenous antiviral medications. 

Curriculum

Chapter 1: Introduction

  • Mode of viral infection
  • History of antiviral treatment
  • Antiviral resistance
  • Intravenous antiviral administration systems
Chapter 2: Acyclovir
  • Indications
  • Administration
  • Side Effects
Chapter 3: Cidofovir
  • Indications
  • Administration
  • Side Effects
Chapter 4: Foscarnet
  • Indications
  • Administration
  • Side Effects
Chapter 5: Gancyclovir
  • Indications
  • Administration
  • Side Effects
Chapter 6: Peramivir
  • Indications
  • Administration
  • Side Effects
Chapter 7: Zidovudine
  • Indications
  • Administration
  • Side Effects
Chapter 8: Antibiotic Stewardship
  • Combination therapy
  • New antivirals
  • Adoptive Transfer of Virus-Specific T Cells

Price: $18.00

Contact Hours: 1.5

Course Author

Pamela Clark

Pamela Clark, CRNI, is an infusion nurse with the Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. She has more than 35 years of experience in infusion therapy and infusion education with both licensed nurses and patients. Her experience spans multiple infusion settings including: acute care, long-term care, home infusion, and ambulatory infusion care. She also has experience in oncology and oncology research.

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Course Accreditation

See our Accreditation Statements page to view our accreditation information.

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