Nokea
A client is suspected of sepsis from a postsurgical incision infection. What characteristic(s) of sepsis would the nurse recognize? Select all that apply.
- A. Temperature of 102 F
- B. Heart rate of 120 beats/minute
- C. Respiratory rate of 24 breaths/minute
- D. PaCO2 of 42 mm Hg
- E. Blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg
Correct Answer: A,B,C
Rationale: Two or more of the following characterize sepsis: temperature greater than 100.4 F (38 C), heart rate greater than 90 beats/minute, respiratory rate greater than 20 breaths/minute or PaCO2 less than 32 mm Hg, WBC count greater than 12,000 cells/mm, or 10% immature (band) forms. Blood pressure is not an indicator of sepsis, and a PaCO2 of 42 mm Hg is not an indicator.
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A client is diagnosed with a viral illness and requests an antibiotic to 'cure' the illness. When the request is refused by the physician, the client states to the nurse, 'I will never get better.' What is the best response by the nurse?
- A. I will speak with the physician again. You will only get better while taking an antibiotic.'
- B. Prescribing antibiotics for a viral infection may result in drug-resistant bacteria.'
- C. You need to think positively, and you will get better soon.'
- D. Taking antibiotics when you don't need them will make you sick.'
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Causes of antibiotic resistance, a consequence of bacterial mutations that interfere with the mechanism of antibiotic action, are related to inappropriate prescription of antibiotics for viral (rather than bacterial) infection. Because viral infections are often self-limiting, with symptoms control, the client will get better. Indicating that the client is not thinking positively is a nontherapeutic comment. Informing the client that taking unnecessary antibiotics will cause illness is not detailed enough to be an informative response.
A client is in the acute care facility for the administration of intravenous (IV) antibiotics to treat bacterial pneumonia. The client begins to have severe diarrhea 3 days after the IV antibiotics with abdominal cramping and pain. What does the nurse suspect the client has developed due to the antibiotic use?
- A. Food poisoning
- B. An allergic reaction to the antibiotic
- C. A helminth infection
- D. Pseudomembranous colitis
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: When a client is taking an antibiotic, a superinfection can result from overgrowth of microorganisms not affected by the drug. This can lead to a serious inflammation of the colon called pseudomembranous colitis accompanied by potentially life-threatening diarrhea. The nurse should report fever, abdominal cramps, and severe diarrhea immediately. The other choices are not related to the use of the antibiotics.
A client is admitted to an acute care facility with a diagnosis of appendicitis. Which laboratory results demonstrate the client's leukocytosis?
- A. Hemoglobin of 12 mg/dL
- B. Lymphocytes 1,500
- C. Neutrophils of 3,150/mms
- D. White blood cell (WBC) count of 22,000 cells/mm
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The body manufactures more WBCs as needed, a process referred to as leukocytosis. The WBC of 22,000 cells/mms indicates an abundance of white blood cells. Hemoglobin does not represent the presence of infection. The lymphocytes and neutrophils are within normal range and do not demonstrate leukocytosis.
The nurse is teaching a health class in the local public health center. What instructions should the nurse provide as the single most important measure to prevent the spread of infection?
- A. Minimal social contact
- B. Regular immunizations
- C. Thorough handwashing
- D. Sufficient food intake
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Hand hygiene remains the single most important measure to prevent the spread of infection. It reduces the number of transient and resident microorganisms. Sufficient food intake helps restore biologic defense mechanisms but does not prevent spread of infections. Although minimal social contact and regular immunizations may help prevent the spread of infection, especially community-acquired infections, these are not practical measures.
The nurse is caring for a client with an abscess on the back. The nurse observes purulent drainage coming from the abscess. What type of specimen does the nurse anticipate the physician will order to determine the type of bacteria present in the exudate?
- A. A sensitivity test
- B. Test for ova and parasites
- C. White blood cell (WBC) count
- D. A culture
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A culture identifies bacteria in a specimen taken from a person with symptoms of an infection. The source of the specimen may be body fluids or wastes, such as blood, sputum, urine, or feces, or the purulent exudate, collection of pus, from an open wound. A test for ova and parasites is a stool specimen that is examined for evidence of any forms in the infecting microorganism's life cycle. A WBC count may determine that infection is present in the body but does not isolate the bacteria. A sensitivity test is done to determine which antibiotic inhibits the growth of a nonviral microorganism and will be most effective in treating the infection.