module - 4 Infection questions
The student nurse asks the nursing instructor to explain why stress can increase the risk of infection. The instructor explains:
Physical or emotional stress causes the body to release cortisol, which can increase the risk of infection by suppressing the immune response. Cortisol increases the level of serum glucose, providing a good medium for bacterial growth.
A client has a systemic infection that resulted from an untreated urinary tract infection. The client has malaise and is confused. The client is:
Sepsis, a term that means poisoning of tissues, often is used to describe the presence of infection.
A nurse has collected the blood, urine, and stool specimens of a client with meningococcal meningitis. Which precaution should the nurse take when transporting the specimens?
Specimens should be placed in sealed plastic bags to prevent them from becoming contaminated or causing the transmission of infective microorganisms. Paper bags are not used for this purpose and it is not customary to swab the outside of specimen containers. Standard precautions should be implemented, but this does not necessitate the use of a gown in all cases.
The nurse is receiving a confused client with a draining wound onto the medical-surgical unit. Which room assignment will the nurse make?
The client with confusion and a draining wound would, as would other clients on the unit, benefit most from a private room. The client cannot be expected to assist in maintaining appropriate hygiene or environmental control, so placement with another client who has a susceptible condition is not appropriate.
An infection or the products of infection carried throughout the body by the blood is called:
Transport of an infection or the products of infection throughout the body by the *blood* is known as *septicemia*. *Sepsis*, a term that means *poisoning of tissues*, often is used to describe the *presence of infection*.
A client comes to the emergency department reporting becoming very ill after consuming shrimp and lobster. How will the nurse document this condition?
A noncommunicable disease is caused by food or environmental toxin. Infections diseases, communicable disease, and contagious disease do not describe an illness that is contracted after eating food.
Upon review of a client's microbiology culture results, the nurse recognizes which organism as indicative of normal flora?
Escherichia coli residing in the intestinal tract is typical normal flora. Escherichia coli in the urinary tract is indicative of a urinary tract infection. Shigella germs are a common cause of severe diarrhea and are contagious. Shigella in the urinary tract is indicative of a urinary tract infection.
The nurse is reviewing the plan of care for assigned clients. Which client has the highest risk for developing an infection?
Many factors affect the risk for infection, including age, sex, race, and heredity. Neonates and older adults, especially those who have pre-existing illnesses, appear to be more vulnerable to infection. School-age children are exposed to potential infections, but immunizations protect the child. An adolescent with a fracture or middle-aged adult taking medication to control blood pressure could develop an infection, but these clients are not at the highest risk.
Which mask should the nurse don when caring for a client with tuberculosis?
When caring for a client with tuberculosis, the nurse should don a filtered respirator mask to filter the inspired air. A surgical mask, also known as a procedure mask, is intended to be worn by health care professionals during surgery and during nursing to catch the bacteria shed in liquid droplets and aerosols from the wearer's mouth and nose. Low-efficiency particulate air (LEPA) masks are not used in health care.
