Question

The nurse notes that a 2 day old infant shows a tendency to bleed. The nurse understands this is MOST likely caused by which of the following?

- Hemophilia
- Absence of intestinal bacteria needed for the production of Vitamin K
- Immature liver that is unable to synthesize clotting factors
- Excessive breakdown of RBC's coupled with a delayed production of new ones.

Answer 1

The tendency for a 2-day-old infant to bleed is most likely due to the absence of intestinal bacteria necessary for Vitamin K production, which is essential for the synthesis of clotting factors in the liver.

Step-by-step explanation:

The bleeding tendency in a 2-day-old infant is most likely caused by the absence of intestinal bacteria needed for the production of Vitamin K, which is crucial for the synthesis of clotting factors by the liver. A newborn's liver may be immature and not yet able to synthesize adequate levels of clotting factors, and the lack of Vitamin K exacerbates this issue. While hemophilia is a genetic disorder characterized by the lack of clotting factors, it is less common than Vitamin K deficiency in this age group and typically presents later than 2 days of age. In addition, excessive breakdown of red blood cells (RBCs) would not tend to present with bleeding, but with anemia, and is not the most likely cause of bleeding in a neonate.