Amphotericin B Overview and Mnemonic

Introduction

• Amphotericin B is an antifungal medication.
• Used to treat severe systemic fungal infections.
• Reserved for the most severe infections due to adverse effects.

Mnemonic Story

• Setting: Young man's apartment kitchen.
• Cooking frog legs to impress a date.
• Frogs (amphibians) symbolize Amphotericin B: "Amphibian for Amphotericin."

Clinical Use

• Amphotericin B treats severe systemic fungal infections.
• Last resort medication due to serious side effects.

Side Effects and Mnemonics

Nephrotoxicity

• Frog knocks over mushrooms and kidney beans.
• Kidney beans symbolize the kidney, representing nephrotoxicity.
• Important to monitor BUN, creatinine, and urine output.

Hypokalemia

• Slips on banana peel (banana symbolizes potassium).
• Empty banana peel on the floor symbolizes low potassium.
• Amphotericin B can cause low potassium levels.
• Patients may require potassium supplementation.

Hypomagnesemia

• Falls into the fridge, knocking off magnets.
• Magnets represent magnesium.
• Falling magnets symbolize low magnesium levels.
• Risk of hypomagnesemia necessitates magnesium supplementation.

Infusion-related Reaction

• Date has a bad reaction to frog legs, shaking (food poisoning analogy).
• Reaction to amphotericin infusion: fever, chills, nausea, hypotension.
• These symptoms are expected, not a reason to stop the infusion.
• Pre-medication with antipyretics (e.g., Tylenol) and anti-emetics may be prescribed.

Summary

• Amphotericin B is a potent antifungal with multiple serious side effects.
• Requires careful monitoring of kidney function, and potassium & magnesium levels.
• Infusion-related reactions are common but expected.
• Use of Amphotericin B is typically a last resort.

Conclusion

• Better recipe suggestions for a safer dinner date next time!
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