Chapter 25: Skin Infections and Inflammation

A patient with a history of a leg ulcer reports pain and redness in the same area. Upon assessment, the nurse finds the area to be edematous, warm, and tender on palpation with noticeable lymphadenopathy. What should the nurse suspect the patient to be experiencing with these symptoms?

Cellulitis

A patient has folliculitis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). What does the nurse instruct the patient and family about preventing the spread of MRSA?

Change the bandage whenever drainage seeps through.

Which organism is associated with "hitch-hiking" infestation?

Cimex lectularius

During morning rounds, the nurse discovers that an older adult patient has been incontinent during the night. To protect the skin, what does the nurse do first?

Clean the patient.

Which is a risk factor for candidial infection?

Diabetes mellitus

The nurse admits a patient to the clinic who is reporting severe itching of the arms and legs caused by exposure to poison ivy. The nurse anticipates that the health care provider will prescribe which medication?

Diphenhydramine

A patient with a skin infection with a raised vesicle that becomes hemorrhagic reports itching and swelling. The patient has a history of contact with an infected animal. What drugs would be most beneficial for the patient? Select all that apply.

Doxycycline Ciprofloxacin

A patient with a skin infection reports intense itching that is unbearable at night. Which drug may be beneficial for this patient?

Permethrin

Which drug is used to treat both scabies and pediculosis?

Permethrin

A patient with skin inflammation reports weeping lesions and itching at the affected area. Upon assessment, the nurse observes weeping papules, fissuring, and lichenification on the foot. What could be the possible diagnosis?

Non-specific eczematous dermatitis

The nurse is developing a teaching plan for a patient diagnosed with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection. The nurse plans to include which instruction in the patient's teaching plan?

The infected area should be covered with a clean, dry bandage.

A patient with a skin infection in the chin area reports small, red patches filled with fluid and hair in the center of the lesion. What should the nurse infer from these findings?

The patient has folliculitis.

The nurse is assessing a patient who is suspected to have tinea pedis. Which question asked by the nurse would be most appropriate to confirm the diagnosis?

"Did you share your athletic equipment with other people?"

The nurse is assessing a patient who is suspected to have shingles. Which question asked by the nurse would be most appropriate to confirm the diagnosis?

"Do you have a history of chickenpox?"

The nurse is teaching a patient who has a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. Which patient statement indicates a need for further teaching?

"I should replace my bandage every eight hours."

The nurse is teaching a patient ways to reduce skin inflammation. Which statement made by the patient shows effective learning?

"I will add cornstarch to the water before bathing."

The nurse is teaching a patient with a furuncle about measures to prevent the spread of infection. Which statements made by the patient show ineffective learning? Select all that apply.

"I will squeeze the lesion." "I will keep the lesion moist."

A registered nurse is precepting a student nurse who is educating the parents of a child with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. Which of the nursing student's statements requires correction?

"Stop giving your child the antibiotics once the wound has healed."

Which skin infection is associated with a typical "satellite lesion"?

Candidiasis

Which skin inflammation is characterized by extreme itching?

Atopic dermatitis

A patient with skin inflammation reports redness at the affected area. The primary health care provider diagnosed the condition and prescribed the patient to use gel for hair. What diagnosis would the nurse expect to find in the patient's medical record?

Contact dermatitis

A patient with a skin infection on the neck reports itching, swelling, and a history of contact with an infected animal. Upon assessment, the nurse finds the infected area to be edematous and tender. The patient also has fever, chills, and enlarged lymph nodes. What could be the possible diagnosis?

Cutaneous anthrax

Which skin infection is characterized by a painless lesion and formation of eschar regardless of treatment?

Cutaneous anthrax

Which type of lesion occurs as a result of necrosis?

Eschar

Which condition may trigger recurrence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in an otherwise healthy male?

Fatigue

What is the triggering factor for the recurrence of herpes simplex skin infection?

Fever

A patient with a skin infection in the axilla reports a small, red lesion filled with pus. Upon assessment, the nurse notices the area to be erythematous and tender on palpation with noticeable lymphadenopathy. What could be the possible diagnosis?

Furuncle

Which skin infection would cause a patient to report facial drooping?

Herpes zoster

Which skin infection may spread to patients from health care personnel?

Herpetic whitlow

The nurse anticipates that a patient with a deep necrotizing wound caused by a brown recluse spider bite may require which type of healing therapy?

Hyperbaric oxygen

An older adult patient with a skin infection reports itching at the infection site, along with fever and malaise. Upon assessment, the nurse finds the patient to be immunosuppressed. Which drug does the nurse expect the primary health care provider to prescribe?

Intravenous acyclovir

The nurse assesses a patient's leg ulcer and notices redness, pain, and swelling around the wound along with fever and lymphadenopathy. The patient's medical record reveals an allergy to penicillin. What would be effective medications to treat this infection? Select all that apply.

Macrolide Tetracycline Aminoglycoside

A patient with a pediculosis skin infection reports itching and skin abrasions from scratching. What would be the drug of choice?

Malathion

A patient with contact dermatitis reports redness in the earlobes. What could be the reason for this?

Nickel allergy

Which type of allergy is associated with linear streaks of vesicles?

Plants

Which skin inflammation is often relieved by increasing exposure to sunlight?

Psoriasis

Which form of dermatophytosis should the nurse document when the patient experiences the lesions in the groin?

Tinea cruris

Which is a synonym of "jock itch"?

Tinea cruris

A patient with a skin infection on the hand reports itching near the site of infection. Upon assessment, the nurse notices serpiginous patches with elevated borders. What could be the possible diagnosis?

Tinea manus

A patient with a skin infection reports itching near the site of infection. Upon observation, the nurse notices annular patches with scaling on the foot. What could be the possible diagnosis?

Tinea pedis

Which is a synonym of "athlete's foot"?

Tinea pedis

Which is a common area for candidial infections to occur?

Vagina

A patient with skin inflammation reports redness and itching in the skinfold area. Which therapy is most suitable in this patient?

Water-soluble creams