Question

All of the following clients visit the emergency room during one shift. For which clients should the nurse expect the healthcare provider to prescribe an antibiotic? Select all that apply.

1. Cat bite to the hand of an elderly client
2. Laceration from broken glass in a 6-year-old client
3. Stab wound in the arm of a 37-year-old client
4. Closed fracture to the ankle of a 40-year-old soccer player
5. A wrist sprain in a 17-year-old who was playing basketball

Answer 1

Antibiotics should be prescribed for an elderly client with a cat bite to the hand due to the high risk of infection and for a wound that is known to be infected by S. aureus. Other injuries listed may not require antibiotics unless they become infected or present other risk factors.

Step-by-step explanation:

Clients who should expect the healthcare provider to prescribe an antibiotic are those with wounds at high risk for infection. In the scenarios provided, the most likely candidates for antibiotics are:

• An elderly individual with a cat bite to the hand, due to the high risk of infection from animal saliva carrying bacteria.
• A client with a wound infection caused by S. aureus, due to the aggressive nature of this bacteria and the need to prevent further complications.

A laceration from broken glass, stab wound, closed fracture, and sprain do not automatically require antibiotic therapy unless they show signs of infection or are at high risk of infection due to other medical conditions or the nature of the injury. The healthcare provider may also consider prophylactic antibiotic use in certain cases, but it's not a given for these types of injuries without additional risk factors.