A patient with multisystem trauma has been in the ICU for 6 days after sustaining a closed head injury, a right-sided pneumothorax, right rib fractures, a grade IV liver laceration, a pancreatic contusion, and a right acetabular fracture.The patient is still intubated and mechanically ventilated and has a chest tube, Foley catheter, and two abdominal drains.The patient's hemodynamic assessment reveals the following values: BP, 94/66 mm Hg; HR, 118 beats/min; T, 38.7° C; CVP, 5 cm H₂O; wedge pressure, 6 mm Hg; cardiac index, 6.1; and systemic vascular resistance, 450 dyns/sec.The patient is at the greatest risk to develop A) respiratory failure. B) infection. C) venous thromboembolism D) fat embolism syndrome.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Trauma patients are at risk for infection because of contaminated wounds, invasive therapeutic and diagnostic catheters, intubation and mechanical ventilation, host susceptibility, and the critical care environment.Nursing management must include interventions to decrease and eliminate the trauma patient's risk of infection.

A Patient with Multisystem Trauma Has Been in the ICU