A nurse is assessing a 3-month-old infant who has diarrhea. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

A. "Let's review the side effects of metronidazole.” Metronidazole is used to treat bacterial infections like bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis, not syphilis. Syphilis is typically treated with penicillin or other appropriate antibiotics.

B. “I have to contact your parents.” At 20 years old, the patient is an adult and has a right to medical privacy. Contacting their parents without consent would violate patient confidentiality laws.

C. “You need to come back in a week for retesting" Retesting is important in the follow-up for sexually transmitted infections, but it is usually scheduled for a later date (e.g., after treatment is completed and time has passed to check for cure or reinfection). A week is too soon for meaningful retesting for syphilis.

D. “I have to notify the public health department.” Syphilis is a reportable disease, meaning healthcare providers are required to notify public health authorities to help control the spread of the infection. This is necessary for public health tracking and intervention.

A. Obtain an x-ray of the child's neck: While an x-ray can help diagnose epiglottitis, it is not the first action. The priority is to prevent the spread of infection and ensure the safety of the healthcare team and other patients.

B. Place intubation equipment at the bedside: Intubation may be necessary if the child's airway becomes obstructed, but the first step is to take precautions to prevent the spread of the infection.

C. Administer intravenous antibiotics: Administering antibiotics is crucial for treating the infection, but it should follow the initiation of droplet precautions to ensure safety.

D. Initiate droplet precautions: Epiglottitis is often caused by bacterial infections that can spread through respiratory droplets. Initiating droplet precautions immediately helps prevent transmission and is the priority to protect healthcare workers and other patients.