An 80-year-old hospitalized individual is recovering from surgery but now has gotten an infection. Over the course of a few days, the person shows increasing confusion and consistently misinterprets what others are trying to communicate. The MOST probable diagnosis for this condition would be:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms described in the scenario (increasing confusion, misinterpreting communication) are consistent with delirium, which is a common complication in hospitalized older adults with infections. Neurocognitive disorder refers to a range of cognitive decline that is not necessarily acute, while schizophrenia and substance abuse are less likely given the individual's age and medical history.

An 80-Year-Old Hospitalized Individual Is Recovering from Surgery but Now