Question

Which of the following is the priority intervention for the nurse caring for an immunocompromised pediatric patient with a fever?

1) Administering antipyretic medication
2) Providing a cool sponge bath
3) Administering antibiotics
4) Ensuring adequate hydration

Answer 1

The priority intervention for an immunocompromised pediatric patient with a fever is administering antibiotics.

Step-by-step explanation:

The priority intervention for the nurse caring for an immunocompromised pediatric patient with a fever is 3) Administering antibiotics.

Administering antibiotics is crucial in this situation because an immunocompromised patient is at a higher risk for severe infections. Antibiotics help to treat the underlying infection and prevent complications.

While administering antipyretic medication and providing a cool sponge bath can help reduce fever, they do not address the root cause of the fever. Ensuring adequate hydration is important for overall patient care, but it may not be the priority initial intervention when faced with an immunocompromised patient with a fever.

Answer 2

The priority intervention for an immunocompromised pediatric patient with a fever is to administer antibiotics, as it is crucial to treat any underlying infection promptly to prevent complications.

Step-by-step explanation:

For an immunocompromised pediatric patient with a fever, the priority intervention for the nurse would typically be administering antibiotics. This is because fever in an immunocompromised patient may indicate a serious infection, and antibiotics are essential for treating bacterial infections. While antipyretics may help manage the fever and adequate hydration is important for overall care, treating the potential underlying infection with antibiotics is critical to prevent further complications. Providing a cool sponge bath is generally considered a supportive care measure rather than a primary intervention.

For immunocompromised patients, it is vital to perform antimicrobial susceptibility testing to determine the best antibiotic treatment. Infections, like Salmonella or puerperal fever, can be life-threatening if not promptly and properly treated. In the case of systemic infections, oral antibiotics may be more effective than intravenous ones if the patient develops complications associated with intravenous catheters, such as bloodstream infections with pathogens like Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Regardless of the immediate intervention, ensuring that the healthcare team adheres to infection control protocols like handwashing is also crucial for the care of immunocompromised patients.