Question

The urgent care clinic nurse referred a client with an acute bacterial infection to see a dermatologist. Which diagnosis is the most likely possibility for this client?

1) Cellulitis
2) Otitis media
3) Sepsis
4) Conjunctivitis

Answer 1

The most likely diagnosis for a client referred to a dermatologist for an acute bacterial skin infection described with symptoms of redness, swelling, warmth, pus production, and rapid progression is cellulitis.

Step-by-step explanation:

The urgent care clinic nurse referred a client with an acute bacterial infection to see a dermatologist. Considering the information provided in the clinical focus scenarios and disease profiles, the most likely diagnosis for this client is cellulitis. Cellulitis is a deep bacterial infection of the skin that can cause symptoms such as areas of redness, swelling, and warmth, as described in Sam's case where the area around a cut began to display these signs along with the production of pus. The description of the skin's rapid progression to blistering and small gas pockets forming beneath the skin layer in Mark's situation suggests the severity typical of cellulitis and even potential progression to necrotizing fasciitis, which is a more severe form of tissue infection. Therefore, the nurse's referral to a dermatologist aligns with the standard of care for diagnosing and managing advanced bacterial skin infections such as cellulitis, which often require professional medical treatment and close monitoring.