An RN in a pediatric emergency department performs a triage patient on a 13-month-old male. The patient's father states he had difficulty waking his son from a nap that afternoon. Additionally, the infant had difficulty crawling and had difficulty with feeding the following morning. The RN observes that the patient has a weak cry. Upon further assessment, the patient's father noted that the infant had ingested fresh honey on his toast at breakfast yesterday. The medical team suspects Clostridium botulinum infection due to the ingestion of bacterial endospores.
-The RN anticipates that the priority intervention for this patient's care will be ________.

Question

An RN in a pediatric emergency department performs a triage patient on a 13-month-old male. The patient's father states he had difficulty waking his son from a nap that afternoon. Additionally, the infant had difficulty crawling and had difficulty with feeding the following morning. The RN observes that the patient has a weak cry. Upon further assessment, the patient's father noted that the infant had ingested fresh honey on his toast at breakfast yesterday. The medical team suspects Clostridium botulinum infection due to the ingestion of bacterial endospores.
-The RN anticipates that the priority intervention for this patient's care will be ________.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The priority intervention for an infant with suspected botulism is airway support. The ingestion of bacterial endospores can lead to the production of botulinum toxin, which causes muscle weakness and may lead to respiratory failure. Therefore, the patient may require intubation or other forms of airway support to ensure adequate oxygenation and ventilation. Antibiotic administration may not be effective in treating botulism, and blood pressure support and oxygen administration may be necessary but are not the highest priority interventions in this case.

An RN in a Pediatric Emergency Department Performs a Triage