A female patient is questioning the nurse on why she can’t explain the same 5-day antibiotic (Zithromax) that her husband received. The patient is 65 with a history of and has an abnormal heart rhythm. The nurse explains that:

Zithromax can cause cancer in women.

Your medical conditions, age, and gender make you susceptible to QT prolongation, a known risk of this antibiotic.

This antibiotic is less effective in women.

Zithromax is expensive, so your insurance won’t pay for it.