NUR 318 Pathophysiology Chapter 11: Innate and Adaptive Immunity

A client with infectious mononucleosis asks the nurse why the lymph nodes are enlarged. Which statement is the nurse's appropriate response?

"Your lymph nodes trap and destroy viruses."

A client called the physician's office with symptoms of the common cold. The nurse educates the client on supportive treatment for symptoms and explains that the body's immune system is fighting the virus but will take approximately how long for a response?

1-2 weeks

A client is brought to the physician's office with a raised, red macular rash on the trunk and arms accompanied by a fever. A diagnosis of measles is made. Which type of immunity does this disease process provide?

Active natural immunity

The cells that mediate humoral immunity do so because they are capable of producing:

Antibodies

Substances foreign to the host that can stimulate an immune response are known as:

Antigens

Select the type of lymphocyte that matures in the bone marrow.

B lymphocytes

Of the pathways available to recognize microbes and activate the complement system, which one requires the presence of an antibody?

Classical

A client receiving chemotherapy has leukopenia. Which type of medication would promote long-term improvement in the client's immune response?

Colony-stimulating factor (CSF)

Once T helper cells are activated, they secrete which substance that activates and influences nearly all of the other cells of the immune system?

Cytokines

A lactation nurse visits a new mother after delivery of her first child and encourages the mother to breast-feed her infant, even for a short time. Which statement made by the nurse correctly explains the importance of breast-feeding?

For several months, colostrum will provide the infant with passive immunity to diseases to which the mother has immunity.

A client diagnosed with sepsis has a critically low neutrophil count. The nurse expects which drug or drug class to be used to stimulate white blood cell production?

Granulocyte CSF (G-CSF) such as filgrastim

A client has recently received a pneumococcal vaccine and the client's B cells are consequently producing antibodies. Which cells may enhance this production of antibodies?

Helper T cells

A client receives an interleukin-2 (IL-2) infusion to treat cancer. Which response explains how this cytokine will affect the growth of cancer cells?

IL-2 stimulates growth of cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

The nurse is assisting a new mother with breastfeeding. What does the nurse understand is a primary secretory immunoglobulin (Ig) that is found in the colostrum?

IgA

Which immunoglobulin is primarily found in secretions and has a primary function of providing local immunity on mucosal surfaces?

IgA

Which immunoglobulin (Ig) is released in response to allergy or parasitic infections?

IgE

The nurse is aware that the only class of immunoglobulins to cross the placenta is:

IgG

Which immunoglobulin (Ig) is the most abundant of circulating antibodies?

IgG

A nurse is reviewing labs for a client newly diagnosed with a bacterial infection. In determining if the client is experiencing a primary immune response, the nurse looks for which type of antibody produced from activated immature B cells?

IgM

The nurse is reviewing the functions of immunoglobulins and determines which immunoglobulin is associated with its correct action?

IgM, the first antibody to be produced by a developing fetus.

Agranulocytes include:

Lymphocytes and monocytes

An obstetrics nurse is counseling an expectant mother. The mother is concerned about letting people hold her baby once the baby is born, fearing that the infant will get sick. What should the nurse explain to the mother?

Maternal immunoglobulins cross the placenta and protect the newborn early in life.

A pregnant client gets immunized for influenza while in the second trimester. What response occurs in the newborn after birth with regard to protection from the flu?

Maternal vaccination may offer fetal and neonatal passive immunity against the flu.

While caring for a pediatric client admitted with a viral infection, the nurse knows that which type of cell will be the child's primary defense against the virus?

Natural killer (NK) cells

A blood smear is being examined and a stain has been added that will identify granulocytes. Which cell types will be visible with the stain? Select all that apply.

Neutrophil Basophil Eosinophil

Granulocytes include:

Neutrophil Basophil Eosinophil

A teenager with an infected wound asks, "How does my body fight off the germs in my scraped arm?" Which response by the nurse correctly identifies the cells that play a central role to the innate immune response to an infectious microorganism?

Neutrophils

The process by which microbes are coated to allow for more efficient recognition by phagocytes is known as:

Opsonization

The entrance of a microbe into an individual's vascular space has initiated opsonization. Which statement explains this process?

Opsonization coats a microbe to activate phagocytosis recognition.

Which statement correctly identifies the role of the C3b subcomponent of the complement system?

Opsonizes microbes to facilitate phagocytosis

A child has a congenital condition in which the thymus gland is absent. Which information should the nurse include as the priority when providing caregiver education?

Practice strict infection control practices.

Which process that contributes to immunity takes place in a child's thymus gland?

Production of mature, immunocompetent T lymphocytes

The nurse is planning care for a client with a diagnosis of primary immunodeficiency. What is the priority intervention to incorporate into the plan?

Protecting the client from infection

A college student has received a tetanus booster shot. This immunization confers protection by way of what immune process?

Secondary humoral response

A client is being evaluated for atopic dermatitis possibly caused by a latex-related allergic reaction. The nurse will review which lab results to determine if an allergy is present?

Serum IgE

A client has been identified as having an excess of macrophage inhibitory factor, causing the client to have inhibited movement and activity of macrophages. Which process should the health care team expect to remain unaffected?

Specificity and memory of the immune response

Which statements are true regarding humoral immunity? Select all that apply.

The memory response occurs on subsequent exposures to the antigen. Two types of responses (primary and secondary) occur. B lymphocytes (B cells) are vital to the functioning of this type of immunity.

A client seeks treatment in the clinic for exposure to poison ivy with a rash over the right arm and hand. The nurse is aware that what toxin is found in the oils on poison ivy that is responsible for eliciting an allergic reaction?

Urushiol

Select the statement that best describes the effectiveness of vaccination in the older adult population.

Vaccination is less effective in inducing a full immune response in older persons compared to younger adults.

Which statements are true regarding the effects of aging on the immune system? Select all that apply.

Vaccinations are less effective as we age. Older adults tend to have more evidence of autoimmune disorders as we age. The incidence of cancer increases as we age.

The nurse is explaining the quality of pleiotropism that is possessed by many cytokines. The quality of pleiotropism implies that such cytokines:

are able to act on different types of cells.

A client had been exposed to a particular antigen and now experiences a repeat exposure. What stimulates a quicker immune response?

memory T cells

While explaining immunity to a client, the nurse responds, "The body's internal organs are protected from pathogens because:

our mucosal tissue contains all the necessary cell components to fight a pathogen with an immune response."

A student asks, "What does cell-mediated immunity mean to the client?" The instructor responds, "This means:

the body is trying to defend itself against intracellular microbe invasion by engulfing and destroying the microbe."

Following delivery, the parents have chosen to have their infant's cord blood frozen. A blood test is performed on the cord blood and found to contain IgM antibodies. The nurse interprets this to mean:

the infant has been exposed to an intrauterine infection.

An important function of the thymus is:

the production of mature, immunocompetent T lymphocytes.