Chapter 14 - Infection & HIV

A patient who is diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) tells the nurse, "I feel obsessed with thoughts about dying. Do you think I am just being morbid?" Which response by the nurse is best?

"Can you tell me more about the kind of thoughts that you are having?" More assessment of the patient's psychosocial status is needed before taking any other action.

A patient who uses injectable illegal drugs asks the nurse about preventing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Which response by the nurse is best?

"It is important to participate in a needle-exchange program." Participation in needle-exchange programs has been shown to decrease and control the rate of HIV infection.

A patient who has vague symptoms of fatigue, headaches, and a positive test for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies using an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) test. What instructions should the nurse give to this patient?

"The EIA test will need to be repeated to verify the results." After an initial positive EIA test, the EIA is repeated before more specific testing such as the Western blot is done.

A patient who has a positive test for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies is admitted to the hospital with Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) and a CD4+ T-cell count of less than 200 cells/mL. Based on diagnostic criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which statement by the nurse is correct?

"The patient has developed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)." Development of PCP meets the diagnostic criterion for AIDS.

The nurse plans a presentation for community members about how to decrease the risk for antibiotic-resistant infections. Which information will the nurse include in the teaching plan (select all that apply)?

- Continue taking antibiotics until all the medication is gone - Antibiotics may sometimes be prescribed to prevent infection - Hand washing is effective in preventing many viral and bacterial infections All prescribed doses of antibiotics should be taken. In some situations, such as before surgery, antibiotics are prescribed to prevent infection. There should not be any leftover antibiotics because all prescribed doses should be taken. However, if there are leftover antibiotics, they should be discarded immediately because the number left will not be enough to treat a future infection. Hand washing is generally considered the single most effective action in decreasing infection transmission. Antibiotics are ineffective in treating viral infections such as influenza.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, which personal protective equipment will the nurse put on when assessing a patient who is on contact precautions for diarrhea caused by Clostridium difficile(select all that apply)?

- Gown - Gloves Because the nurse will have substantial contact with the patient and bedding when doing an assessment, gloves and gowns are needed. Eye protection and masks are needed for patients in contact precautions only when spraying or splashing is anticipated. Shoe covers are not recommended in the CDC guidelines.

The nurse cares for a patient infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who has just been diagnosed with asymptomatic chronic HIV infection. Which prophylactic measures will the nurse include in the plan of care (select all that apply)?

- Hepatitis B vaccine - Pneumococcal vaccine - Influenza virus vaccine Asymptomatic chronic HIV infection is a stage between acute HIV infection and a diagnosis of symptomatic chronic HIV infection. Although called asymptomatic, symptoms (e.g., fatigue, headache, low-grade fever, night sweats) often occur. Prevention of other infections is an important intervention in patients who are HIV positive, and these vaccines are recommended as soon as the HIV infection is diagnosed. Antibiotics and immune globulin are used to prevent and treat infections that occur later in the course of the disease when the CD4+ counts have dropped or when infection has occurred.

Which nursing action will be most useful in assisting a college student to adhere to a newly prescribed antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen?

Check the patient's class schedule to help decide when the drugs should be taken. The best approach to improve adherence is to learn about important activities in the patient's life and adjust the ART around those activities.

A young adult female patient who is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive has a new prescription for efavirenz (Sustiva). Which information is most important to include in the medication teaching plan?

Continue to use contraception while on this medication. Efavirenz can cause fetal anomalies and should not be used in patients who may be pregnant. The drug should not be used during pregnancy because large doses could cause fetal anomalies.

A patient treated for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection for 6 years has developed fat redistribution to the trunk, with wasting of the arms, legs, and face. What instructions will the nurse give to the patient?

Discuss a change in antiretroviral therapy. A frequent first intervention for metabolic disorders is a change in antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Eight years after seroconversion, a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patient has a CD4+ cell count of 800/µL and an undetectable viral load. What is the priority nursing intervention at this time?

Encourage adequate nutrition, exercise, and sleep. The CD4+ level for this patient is in the normal range, indicating that the patient is the stage of asymptomatic chronic infection, when the body is able to produce enough CD4+ cells to maintain a normal CD4+ count. AIDS and increased incidence of opportunistic infections typically develop when the CD4+ count is much lower than normal.

The nurse palpates enlarged cervical lymph nodes on a patient diagnosed with acute human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Which action would be most appropriate for the nurse to take?

Explain to the patient that this is an expected finding. Persistent generalized lymphadenopathy is common in the early stages of HIV infection.

An older adult who takes medications for coronary artery disease has just been diagnosed with asymptomatic chronic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Which information will the nurse include in patient teaching?

Many medications have interactions with antiretroviral drugs. The nurse will teach the patient about potential interactions between antiretrovirals and the medications that the patient is using for chronic health problems.

A pregnant woman with a history of asymptomatic chronic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is seen at the clinic. The patient states, "I am very nervous about making my baby sick." Which information will the nurse include when teaching the patient?

Most infants born to HIV-positive mothers are not infected with the virus. Only 25% of infants born to HIV-positive mothers develop HIV infection, even when the mother does not use ART during pregnancy. The percentage drops to 2% when ART is used. Perinatal transmission can occur at any stage of HIV infection (although it is less likely to occur when the viral load is lower). ART can safely be used in pregnancy, although some ART drugs should be avoided.

Which patient exposure by the nurse is most likely to require postexposure prophylaxis when the patient's human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status is unknown?

Needle stick with a needle and syringe used to draw blood Puncture wounds are the most common means for workplace transmission of blood-borne diseases, and a needle with a hollow bore that had been contaminated with the patient's blood would be a high-risk situation.

The nurse prepares to administer the following medications to a hospitalized patient with human immunodeficiency (HIV). Which medication is most important to administer at the right time?

Oral saquinavir (Invirase) It is important that antiretrovirals be taken at the prescribed time every day to avoid developing drug-resistant HIV.

The nurse cares for a patient who is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive and taking antiretroviral therapy (ART). Which information is most important for the nurse to address when planning care?

The patient states, "Sometimes I miss a dose of zidovudine (AZT)." Because missing doses of ART can lead to drug resistance, this patient statement indicates the need for interventions such as teaching or changes in the drug scheduling.

A patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has developed Mycobacterium avium complex infection. Which outcome would be appropriate for the nurse to include in the plan of care?

The patient will maintain intact perineal skin. The major manifestation of M. avium infection is loose, watery stools, which would increase the risk for perineal skin breakdown.

To evaluate the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy (ART), which laboratory test result will the nurse review?

Viral load testing The effectiveness of ART is measured by the decrease in the amount of virus detectable in the blood.

Which information would be most important to help the nurse determine if the patient needs human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing?

Patient age The current Center for Disease Control (CDC) policy is to offer routine testing for HIV to all individuals age 13 to 64.

Which of these patients being seen at the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) clinic should the nurse assess first?

Patient who has had 10 liquid stools in the last 24 hours The nurse should assess the patient for dehydration and hypovolemia.

The nurse will most likely prepare a medication teaching plan about antiretroviral therapy (ART) for which patient?

Patient who tested positive for HIV 2 years ago and now has cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis CMV retinitis is an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining illness and indicates that the patient is appropriate for ART even though the HIV infection period is relatively short. An HIV-negative patient would not be offered ART.

A patient who is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected has a CD4+ cell count of 400/µL. Which factor is most important for the nurse to determine before the initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for this patient?

Patient's ability to comply with ART schedule Drug resistance develops quickly unless the patient takes ART medications on a strict, regular schedule. In addition, drug resistance endangers both the patient and the community.

The nurse designs a program to decrease the incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the adolescent and young adult populations. Which information should the nurse assign as the highest priority?

Prevention of HIV transmission between sexual partners Sexual transmission is the most common way that HIV is transmitted. The nurse should also provide teaching about perinatal transmission, needle sterilization, and blood transfusion, but the rate of HIV infection associated with these situations is lower.

A patient with a positive rapid antibody test result for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is anxious and does not appear to hear what the nurse is saying. What action by the nurse is most important at this time?

Remind the patient about the need to return for retesting to verify the results. After an initial positive antibody test, the next step is retesting to confirm the results.

The registered nurse (RN) caring for an HIV-positive patient admitted with tuberculosis can delegate which action to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?

Stock the patient's room with all the necessary personal protective equipment. A patient diagnosed with tuberculosis would be placed on airborne precautions. Because all health care workers are taught about the various types of infection precautions used in the hospital, the UAP can safely stock the room with personal protective equipment.