A patient arrives in the ED after an automobile accident. Which of the following clinical manifestations leads the nurse to suspect a pneumothorax? (Select all that apply)
(Select All that Apply.)

A. We will have to drain the pus out of your pleural space: An empyema is characterized by the accumulation of pus in the pleural space, typically due to infection or inflammation. The primary treatment often involves draining the infected fluid to relieve symptoms and treat the underlying infection, making this statement accurate and appropriate for the patient.

B. These blebs in your lungs can rupture with exercise: This statement is not applicable to empyema. Blebs are associated with conditions like pulmonary bullae or emphysema, not empyema. Empyema specifically refers to pus in the pleural space, not blebs in the lungs.

C. You will be given a long course of antiviral medication: Antiviral medication is not typically indicated for empyema, as it is often caused by bacterial infections. Treatment usually involves antibiotics and drainage rather than antiviral therapy.

D. We will watch you for respiratory muscle fatigue: While monitoring for respiratory status is important in any patient with empyema, this statement does not specifically address the nature of empyema or its treatment. The focus should be on managing the infection and drainage of the pleural space.

A. It does not remain dormant but some host defenses can kill the bacteria: While the immune system can kill some of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli, in many cases, the bacteria evade complete eradication and persist in a dormant state within the lungs. This does not mean the infection is fully eliminated, as it can reactivate later.

B. Virulence factors in the bacilli weaken over time, leading to apoptosis: Mycobacterium tuberculosis does not naturally lose its virulence over time. Instead, it can persist in a latent state due to immune containment, not because of a reduction in its ability to cause disease.

C. The bacilli can become isolated within tubercles in the lungs, possibly encapsulated: In latent tuberculosis, the immune system walls off the bacilli within granulomas (tubercles), preventing active disease. These granulomas may be encapsulated with fibrous tissue, restricting bacterial growth and spread. The bacteria remain dormant but can reactivate if the immune system weakens.

D. Macrophages attack and phagocytize new areas of infection: While macrophages do play a role in the immune response to tuberculosis, they are often unable to completely eradicate the bacilli. Instead, the bacteria can survive within macrophages and trigger the formation of granulomas, which help contain but not eliminate the infection.