The Nursing Process in Pharmacology Practice Exam

If IV extravasation occurs with an antibiotic, what actions should you take?

Stop infusion, remove IV immediately; discard drug; notify prescriber; start a new IV site.

Continue infusion and monitor.

Stop infusion, leave IV in place if possible; aspirate drug if possible; apply treatment per policy; notify prescriber; start a new IV site if needed.

Immediate management aims to limit tissue exposure to the leaked antibiotic and prevent tissue damage. The best approach is to stop the infusion right away, and if possible, leave the IV catheter in place to aspirate any drug that remains in the cannula. Aspirating helps remove as much of the extravasated drug as you can from the tissue area through the catheter, which can lessen injury. Then apply the treatment per your facility’s policy—this may involve specific local measures like cold or warm compresses or available antidotes depending on the antibiotic and institutional protocol. Notify the prescriber so they can decide on further treatment and whether to discontinue the drug or adjust the plan. Finally, start a new IV site if continued therapy is needed. This sequence minimizes further tissue exposure and preserves the option to continue therapy safely.

Flush line with saline and resume infusion at a slower rate.