In a small rural hospital they work with a wide variety of clients. Of

In a small rural hospital they work with a wide variety of clients. Of this afternoon client’s ad-mitted, the nurse acknowledges the client with the highest susceptibility to infection is the indi-vidual with:

1. Burns
2. Diabetes
3. Pulmonary emphysema
4. Peripheral vascular disease

ANSWER

ANS: 1
Burn clients have a very high susceptibility to infection because of the damage to skin surfaces. This would be the individual with the highest risk for infection. Victims of chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus and multiple sclerosis are susceptible to infection because of general debilita-tion and nutritional impairment. Diseases that impair body system defenses, such as emphysema and bronchitis (which impair ciliary action and thicken mucus), increase susceptibility to infec-tion. Diseases that impair body system defenses, such as peripheral vascular disease (which re-duces blood flow to injured tissues), increase susceptibility to infection.