Question

A nurse is providing follow-up care for a client who sustained a compound fracture three weeks ago. The nurse should recognize that an unexpected finding for which of the following laboratory values is a manifestation of osteomyelitis and should be reported to the provider?

A) Increased white blood cell count.
B) Elevated blood glucose levels.
C) Decreased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).
D) Normal C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.

Answer 1

An unexpected finding for osteomyelitis is a decreased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). It is important to note that ESR is not the only indicator of osteomyelitis, and a combination of other symptoms and tests should be considered for an accurate diagnosis.

Step-by-step explanation:

Osteomyelitis is a bone infection that can be identified through laboratory values. An unexpected finding for osteomyelitis is a decreased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). ESR is a measure of inflammation in the body, and a lower ESR may indicate that the infection is not being properly detected. However, it is important to note that ESR is not the only indicator of osteomyelitis, and a combination of other symptoms and tests should be considered for an accurate diagnosis.