A nurse providing postoperative teaching to a client who has received a valve replacement discusses the importance of antibiotic prophylaxis prior to any dental or surgical procedure. The nurse understands that antibiotic prophylaxis prevents which of the following in these clients?
Sepsis
Otitis media
Deep vein thrombosis
Bacterial endocarditis
The Correct Answer is D
A. Sepsis is a general systemic infection that can arise from many sources but is not the specific concern addressed by prophylactic antibiotics in valve replacement patients.
B. Otitis media (middle ear infection) is unrelated to dental or surgical procedures and not a concern in valve replacement clients.
C. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is prevented with anticoagulants and mobility, not antibiotics.
D. Bacterial endocarditis is a serious infection of the heart's inner lining or valves. Clients with valve replacements are at increased risk, especially during procedures like dental work that may introduce bacteria into the bloodstream. Antibiotic prophylaxis is essential to prevent this potentially life-threatening condition.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Anaphylactic shock is a life-threatening allergic reaction, but it is less common and less frequently the cause of ICU deaths compared to septic shock.
B. Neurogenic shock results from spinal cord injuries or central nervous system damage and is relatively rare.
C. Septic shock is the most common cause of death in intensive care units in the United States. It results from overwhelming infection and leads to systemic inflammation, vasodilation, and multi-organ dysfunction.
D. Cardiogenic shock occurs due to the heart’s inability to pump effectively, often after a major myocardial infarction, but it is not the leading cause of death in ICUs.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Heart failure often presents with dyspnea, crackles (from pulmonary congestion), jugular vein distention, dependent edema, and hepatomegaly due to fluid overload and impaired cardiac output—these are classic signs.
B. Pulmonary embolism typically causes sudden dyspnea, chest pain, and tachypnea but not hepatomegaly or dependent edema.
C. Tension pneumothorax presents with tracheal deviation, absent breath sounds on one side, and hypotension—different from the systemic fluid overload signs described.
D. Cardiac tamponade presents with muffled heart sounds, hypotension, and jugular vein distention (Beck's triad), but it does not cause crackles, hepatomegaly, or peripheral edema.
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