The nurse is explaining to a client the reasons why a burn wound becomes infected. Which reason(s) should the nurse include? (Select all that apply)
Organisms on the skin before the burn colonize in burn wounds and under eschar.
Epithelium that produces antimicrobial peptides is reduced.
An increased basal metabolic rate and body heat radiation stresses the immune system.
Acidic nature of skin that protects against bacterial invasion is compromised.
Loss of serum proteins alters the humoral components.
Correct Answer : A,B,D,E
Choice A reason: Pre-existing skin organisms, like Staphylococcus, colonize burn wounds and eschar, thriving in damaged tissue with impaired barriers. Burns disrupt skin integrity, allowing microbial invasion and biofilm formation, increasing infection risk. This is a primary reason for burn wound infections, supported by wound care microbiology.
Choice B reason: Burned epithelium loses its ability to produce antimicrobial peptides, which normally inhibit bacterial growth. This reduction weakens local defenses, allowing pathogens to proliferate in the wound. Compromised epithelial function is a key factor in burn infections, as it diminishes the skin’s innate immune response.
Choice C reason: Increased basal metabolic rate and heat radiation in burns elevate systemic stress but do not directly cause wound infections. While metabolism impacts healing, it is not a primary infection driver. Local factors like microbial colonization and loss of skin barriers are more directly responsible for burn wound infections.
Choice D reason: The skin’s acidic pH, which inhibits bacterial growth, is compromised in burns due to tissue destruction. This loss of the protective acid mantle allows pathogens to invade more easily, increasing infection risk. This is a critical pathophysiological reason for burn wound susceptibility, per dermatological infection models.
Choice E reason: Loss of serum proteins in burns, due to exudative leakage, impairs humoral immunity, including complement and antibody function. This weakens systemic defenses against wound pathogens, increasing infection risk. Protein loss is a recognized factor in burn-related immunosuppression, contributing to the high incidence of wound infections.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Tissue ischemia from vasospasm is associated with conditions like stroke, not multiple sclerosis (MS). MS involves immune-mediated demyelination of the central nervous system, causing exacerbations. Ischemia does not drive MS exacerbations, making this incorrect, as scarring of the myelin sheath is the hallmark pathological change.
Choice B reason: Destruction of norepinephrine receptors is unrelated to multiple sclerosis. MS exacerbations result from immune attacks on myelin, leading to scarred plaques that disrupt nerve conduction. Norepinephrine receptor issues may affect autonomic functions, but they are not part of MS’s pathophysiology, making this an incorrect choice.
Choice C reason: Multiple sclerosis exacerbations result from immune-mediated destruction and scarring (sclerosis) of the myelin sheath, forming plaques that impair nerve signal transmission. This causes neurological symptoms like weakness or sensory loss. Progressive demyelination and scarring are the core pathologic changes, aligning with MS’s clinical and histopathological features.
Choice D reason: Over-secretion of excitatory neurotransmitters may occur in epilepsy or neurotoxicity, not multiple sclerosis. MS exacerbations stem from myelin sheath scarring, disrupting nerve conduction, not neurotransmitter imbalances. This choice is incorrect, as it does not reflect the immune-driven demyelination central to MS’s pathological process.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Instilling medication after cleaning the eyes is correct, as it ensures a clear surface for antibiotic absorption. This does not contribute to infection persistence but supports treatment efficacy. The issue lies with warm compresses, which may exacerbate bacterial growth, making this choice incorrect.
Choice B reason: Washing hands with antibacterial soap before and after eye care prevents contamination and supports infection control. This practice reduces infection spread, not persistence. Prolonged warm compresses, which promote bacterial proliferation, are the issue, making hand hygiene an incorrect contributor to the infection’s persistence.
Choice C reason: Applying warm compresses for several hours creates a moist, warm environment that may promote bacterial growth, potentially worsening conjunctivitis despite antibiotics. Brief compresses can soothe, but prolonged use counteracts treatment, aligning with microbiological evidence that warmth fosters bacterial persistence in ocular infections.
Choice D reason: Wiping secretions downward and outward from the inner canthus prevents contamination of the unaffected eye, supporting infection control. This does not contribute to infection persistence. Prolonged warm compresses are the likely cause, as they create conditions favoring bacterial growth, making this choice incorrect.
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