Question

a client presented to the emergency department of the hospital with a swollen, reddened, painful leg wound and has been diagnosed with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (mrsa) cellulitis. the client's physician has ordered a complete blood count and white cell differential. which blood component would the physician most likely anticipate to be elevated?

Answer 1

The physician would most likely anticipate an elevated white blood cell count in the complete blood count and white cell differential.

Step-by-step explanation:

In methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) cellulitis, the body's immune system responds by sending white blood cells to the infected area to fight the infection. Therefore, the physician would most likely anticipate an elevated white blood cell count in the complete blood count and white cell differential. Specifically, the physician may expect an elevation in the number of neutrophils, which are a type of white blood cell that plays a significant role in fighting bacterial infections. Elevated neutrophil counts are commonly seen in bacterial infections such as cellulitis.