Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition - Infection Related

Review Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition - Infection related questions and content

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.