Final answer:
A 65-year-old individual with a BMI greater than 30 presents the highest risk of developing cellulitis due to the risk factors of obesity and elderly age which are significant for cellulitis development. Other individuals like pregnant diabetics and those with a skin swab positive for S. aureus also have risks, but the combination of high BMI and older age is most concerning.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual with the highest risk of developing cellulitis among the options provided is b) the 65-year-old with a BMI > 30. Obesity, represented by a high body mass index (BMI), is a well-known risk factor for cellulitis, a common bacterial skin infection. The elderly are also at a heightened risk due to potential issues with circulation and a reduced immune response. While the other individuals described also carry risks for cellulitis, such as diabetes and a positive skin swab for S. aureus, the combined risk factors of high BMI and older age present the most significant risk profile.
Intravenous drug users (IVDUs) who use clean needles have a lower risk compared to those who don't but still carry some risk due to potential skin breaches and infections associated with drug use. However, if proper hygiene is maintained, the risk is significantly lower. A pregnant diabetic woman also faces increased risk due to the immunosuppressive state of pregnancy and potential complications from diabetes, and an individual with a S. aureus infection is at risk of cellulitis if the bacterium breaches the deeper tissues of the skin.