Which antibiotic is anticipated for a client with mastitis?

The choice of cephalexin as the anticipated antibiotic for a client with mastitis is based on its effectiveness against the bacteria commonly responsible for this infection, particularly Staphylococcus aureus, which is a frequent culprit in cases of mastitis. Cephalexin belongs to the class of medications known as cephalosporins, which are generally used to treat various bacterial infections due to their ability to inhibit cell wall synthesis, leading to bacterial cell lysis and death.

Mastitis typically occurs during breastfeeding and involves inflammation of the breast tissue, often accompanied by infection. Cephalexin's broad spectrum of activity against gram-positive bacteria makes it a suitable choice in this scenario.

In contrast, the other medications listed do not have a role in treating mastitis. Acyclovir is an antiviral drug primarily used for infections caused by certain viruses, such as herpes simplex, not bacterial infections like mastitis. Fluconazole is an antifungal agent aimed at treating fungal infections and is not appropriate for mastitis, which is typically bacterial. Imiquimod is an immune response modifier used topically to treat certain skin conditions and has no relevance to the bacterial infection that characterizes mastitis. This context highlights why cephalexin is the appropriate