What is the Risk for Infection?

 

Risk for Infection

At increased risk for being invaded by pathogenic organisms.

Risk Factors

Various health problems and conditions can create a favorable environment that would encourage the development of infections. Here are the common factors:

• Inadequate primary defenses (e.g., broken skin integrity, tissue damage).
• Insufficient knowledge to avoid exposure to pathogens.
• Compromised host defenses (e.g., cancer, immunosuppression, AIDS, diabetes mellitus).
• Compromised circulation (e.g., obesity, lymphedema, peripheral vascular disease).
• A site for organism invasion (e.g., surgery, dialysis, invasive lines, intubation, enteral feedings).
• Compromised host defenses (e.g.,radiation therapy, organ transplant, medication therapy)
• Compromised host defenses
• Contact with contagious agents
• Increased vulnerability of infant (e.g., HIV-positive mother, lack of normal flora, lack of maternal antibodies).
• Lack of immunization
• Multiple sex partners
• Chronic diseases
• Rupture of amniotic membranes

Goals and Outcomes

The patient should report risk factors associated with infection and precautions needed.

• Patient remains free of infection, as evidenced by normal vital signs and absence of signs and symptoms of infection.
• Early recognition of infection to allow for prompt treatment.
• Patient will demonstrate meticulous hand washing technique.

Nursing Assessment

Assessment is paramount in identifying risk factors for Risk for Infection.

Assessment	Rationales
Assess for the presence, existence of, and history of risk factors (mentioned above).	These represent a break in the body’s normal first line of defense.
Monitor white blood cell (WBC) count	An increasing WBC count indicates the body’s efforts to combat pathogens. Rates are as follows: Low: Below 4,500 Normal: 4,500—11,000 High: Above 11,000 Very low WBC count may indicate a severe risk for infection. In older patients, infection may be present without an increased WBC count.
Assess and monitor nutritional status, weight, history of weight loss, and serum albumin.	Patients with poor nutritional status may be anergic or unable to muster a cellular immune response to pathogens making them susceptible to infection.
For pregnant clients, assess the intactness of amniotic membranes.	Prolonged rupture of amniotic membranesbefore delivery puts the mother and neonate at increased risk for infection.
Investigate the use of medications or treatment modalities that may cause immunosuppression.	Antineoplastic agents, corticosteroids, and so on, can reduce immunity.
Assess immunization status and history.	People with incomplete immunizations may not have sufficient acquired active immunity.
Monitor the following signs of actual infection:
Redness, swelling, increased pain, purulent discharge from incisions, injury, and exit sites of tubes (IV tubings), drains, or catheters.	These are the classic signs of infection. Any suspicious drainage should be cultured; antibiotic therapy is determined by pathogens identified.
Elevated temperature.	Temperature of up to 38º C (100.4º F) 48 hours post-op is usually related to surgical stress after 48 hours, temperature of greater than 37.7º (99.8º F) may indicate infection; very high temperature accompanied by sweating and chills may indicate septicemia.
Color of respiratory secretions.	Yellow or yellow-green sputum is indicative of respiratory infection.
Appearance of urine.	Cloudy, turbid, foul-smelling urine with visible sediment is indicative of urinary tract or bladder infection.

 

Nursing Interventions

The following therapeutic nursing interventions can help reduce the Risk for Infection:

Interventions	Rationales
Maintain or teach asepsis for dressing changes and wound care, peripheral IV and central venous management, and catheter care and handling.	Aseptic technique decreases the changes of transmitting or spreading pathogens to the patient. Interrupting the transmission of infection along the chain of infection is an effective way to prevent infection.
Wash hands and teach patient and SO to wash hands before contact with patients and between procedures with the patient. Instances when to wash hands: Before putting on gloves and after taking them off. Before and after touching a patient, before handling an invasive device (foley catheter, IV catheter, and so on) regardless of whether or not gloves are used. After contact with body fluids or excretions, mucous membranes, nonintact skin, or wound dressings. If moving from contaminated body site to another site during the care of the same individual. After contact with inanimate surfaces and objects in the immediate vicinity of the patient. After removing sterile or nonsterile gloves. Before handling medications or preparing food.	Friction and running water effectively remove microorganisms from hands. Washing between procedures reduces the risk of transmitting pathogens from one area of the body to another. Wash hands with antiseptic soap and water for at least 15 seconds followed by alcohol-based hand rub. If hands were not in contact with anyone or anything in the room, use an alcohol-based hand rub and rub until dry. Plain soap is good at reducing bacterial counts but antimicrobial soap is better, and alcohol-based hand rubs are the best.