Question

The nurse is caring for a patient who has a diagnosis of AIDS. Inspection of the patient's mouth reveals the new presence of white lesions on the patient's oral mucosa. What is the nurse's most appropriate response?

1) Encourage the patient to gargle with salt water twice daily.
2) Attempt to remove the lesions with a tongue depressor.
3) Make a referral to the unit's dietitian.
4) Inform the primary care provider of this finding.

Answer 1

The nurse's most appropriate response to the discovery of white lesions in the mouth of an AIDS patient is to inform the primary care provider, as these might be symptoms of oral thrush, an opportunistic infection requiring antifungal treatment.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse is caring for a patient with AIDS who presents with white lesions on the oral mucosa. These lesions may indicate oral thrush, a common opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients caused by the Candida species. The most appropriate response from the nurse would be to inform the primary care provider of this finding, as it may require specific antifungal treatment, which could include medications like nystatin, clotrimazole, fluconazole, or itraconazole.

It is important not to attempt to remove the lesions with a tongue depressor, as this can cause bleeding and is not a therapeutic action. The referral to a dietitian and gargling with salt water are supportive measures, but they are not the priority actions in this case. The primary care provider needs to assess these lesions and potentially prescribe the appropriate medication to treat the infection.