A nurse is reviewing laboratory values for a client. Which of the following findings indicates the presence of an infection?

To maintain skin integrity and decrease the risk of infection, it is important to keep the skin clean and well lubricated1. Using a moisturizer on your skin after cleaning can help to maximize lipid barriers and prevent dryness2. It is also important to avoid hot water during bathing as it can increase dryness and cause cracked skin2.

The first step in the inflammatory response is the recognition of harmful stimuli by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) on the surfaces of various cells, including immune cells and non-immune cells. PRRs recognize specific patterns associated with pathogens, damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), among others. This recognition leads to the activation of signaling pathways that promote the recruitment and activation of immune cells and the release of inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines and chemokines.

Once the PRRs recognize the harmful stimuli, inflammatory cells are activated, including neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells. These cells then release inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein, which promote the recruitment and activation of more immune cells and further amplify the inflammatory response. Inflammatory pathways are also triggered, leading to the production of various inflammatory mediators and the activation of transcription factors that regulate the expression of genes involved in the inflammatory response.