While changing a client’s postoperative dressing, the nurse observes purulent drainage at the wound. Before reporting this finding to the healthcare provider (HCP), the nurse should note which of the client’s laboratory values?

Choice A reason: Unexplained weight loss is not directly relevant to pyridostigmine administration. Myasthenia gravis affects neuromuscular junctions, and pyridostigmine enhances acetylcholine, improving muscle strength. Weight loss may indicate systemic issues, but it does not affect the drug’s immediate safety or efficacy, making this choice secondary.

Choice B reason: Trouble sleeping is unrelated to pyridostigmine’s administration. The drug targets acetylcholinesterase, increasing muscle strength in myasthenia gravis, but does not typically affect sleep. Insomnia may reflect other conditions, but it is not a critical pre-administration concern compared to cholinergic side effects.

Choice C reason: Difficulty with urination is critical, as pyridostigmine’s cholinergic effects can exacerbate urinary retention by stimulating bladder smooth muscle. In myasthenia gravis, this may worsen existing autonomic dysfunction, risking complications like infection, making this the most important information to assess before administration.

Choice D reason: Recent oral intake is relevant for gastrointestinal side effects, as pyridostigmine may cause nausea, but it is less critical than urinary issues. Taking the drug with food can mitigate nausea, but urinary retention poses a greater immediate risk, making this choice secondary.

Choice A reason: Culture and sensitivity identify the causative organism and antibiotic susceptibility of purulent drainage, indicating a wound infection. This guides targeted antimicrobial therapy, as postoperative infections may involve resistant bacteria like MRSA, ensuring effective treatment and preventing complications like sepsis or delayed healing.

Choice B reason: C-reactive protein indicates systemic inflammation but is non-specific for wound infections. Purulent drainage requires pathogen identification via culture to guide therapy. While elevated CRP may support infection suspicion, it does not direct antibiotic choice, making it less critical than culture results.

Choice C reason: Serum blood glucose is relevant for wound healing, as hyperglycemia impairs immune response, but it does not identify the infection’s cause. Purulent drainage requires microbiological data from culture to select antibiotics, making glucose levels secondary for immediate infection management.

Choice D reason: Blood pH level assesses acid-base balance, irrelevant to localized wound infection. Purulent drainage indicates bacterial infection, requiring culture to identify pathogens. pH may be altered in systemic sepsis, but culture is the priority for guiding therapy in postoperative wound infections.