Question

The patient you are caring for has an ANC of less than 1000 cells/mm³. The patient is on neutropenic precautions. The medical ICU nurse recognizes that this patient is at highest risk for:

Answer 1

Step 1 Introduction:

Neutropenia means insufficient numbers of circulating neutrophils. The diagnosis is based on the calculation of the absolute neutrophil count.

Step 2 Concept:

Neutropenia is when a person has a low level of neutrophils. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell. All white blood cells help the body fight infection. Neutrophils fight infection by destroying harmful bacteria and fungi that invade the body. They are made in the bone marrow. Bacterial organisms most often cause fever and infection in neutropenic patients. Fungal organisms are also significant pathogens in the setting of neutropenia. Gram-negative aerobic bacteria like Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been most common in neutropenia patients.

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