A patient with right lower-lobe pneumonia has been treated with IV antibiotics for 3 days. Which assessment data obtained by the nurse indicates that the treatment is effective?
The patient's white blood cell (WBC) count is 6000/μL.
Bronchial breath sounds are heard at the right base.
Increased tactile fremitus is palpable over the right chest.
The patient coughs up small amounts of green mucus.
The Correct Answer is A
A. A decrease in the white blood cell count toward normal levels indicates that the infection is responding to antibiotic treatment. A WBC count of 6000/μL is within the normal range for adults (usually 4,000–11,000/μL), which suggests that the body is no longer fighting a significant infection.
B. Bronchial breath sounds heard at the right base indicate consolidation, a sign of ongoing pneumonia or unresolved infection. This would suggest that the infection is not yet controlled, rather than an improvement.
C. Increased tactile fremitus indicates consolidation, which is commonly seen in pneumonia. It suggests that the infection is still present and has not resolved with treatment.
D. Green mucus can indicate the presence of purulent sputum and ongoing infection. Although the color of the mucus may change during the course of pneumonia, the presence of green mucus does not confirm that the infection is resolving, especially after three days of antibiotics.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Strictureplasty is a surgical procedure, not a non-surgical procedure. It is used to treat strictures by widening them, typically in the gastrointestinal tract.
B. Strictureplasty does not remove strictures but rather works to widen or repair the narrowed areas, allowing for improved passage through the affected part of the gastrointestinal tract.
C. Strictureplasty is not used to repair fractures in bones. It is specifically used in the gastrointestinal system to treat strictures.
D. Strictureplasty is commonly performed in the treatment of Crohn's disease, particularly in cases where the disease causes strictures in the intestines. It is a procedure that can help maintain the integrity of the intestine by widening narrowed areas without the need for resection.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Night sweats are more commonly associated with conditions like tuberculosis or certain cancers, rather than pneumonia, although they could occasionally be seen in severe pneumonia.
B. Narrowed pulse pressure is not a typical sign of pneumonia and is more indicative of conditions such as shock or heart failure.
C. Confusion is a classic and often overlooked symptom of pneumonia in older adults. Pneumonia in this population can present with altered mental status or confusion rather than typical respiratory symptoms like cough and fever.
D. Bradycardia is not a typical finding in pneumonia. In fact, tachycardia (an increased heart rate) is more commonly seen as the body tries to compensate for the infection.
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