Final answer:
The nursing diagnosis Risk for Infection is appropriate for patients at higher risk of developing infections, including drug addicts and individuals with a higher risk of needle sticks, such as phlebotomists. Other conditions that may increase the risk for infection include being asymptomatic carriers of MRSA, having pathogens introduced to the bloodstream via contaminated catheters, dental procedures, piercings, or wounds, and being pregnant, which can downregulate the immune system and make individuals more vulnerable to infections.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nursing diagnosis Risk for Infection may be appropriate for patients who are at higher risk of developing infections. This includes individuals who are drug addicts, phlebotomists who have a higher risk of needle sticks, and dentists who are also at risk. Other conditions that may increase the risk for infection include being asymptomatic carriers of MRSA, having pathogens introduced to the bloodstream via contaminated catheters, dental procedures, piercings, or wounds, and being pregnant, which can downregulate the immune system and make individuals more vulnerable to infections.
Many hospital settings, known as nosocomial diseases, contribute to the prevalence and severity of infections. Sick patients bring numerous pathogens into hospitals, and some of these pathogens can be easily transmitted via improperly sterilized medical equipment or by healthcare professionals who do not practice proper hand hygiene. Weakened immune systems in hospital patients also make them more susceptible to infections, and the prevalence of antibiotics in hospital settings can select for drug-resistant bacteria that can cause serious and difficult-to-treat infections.
Examples of infections that may be observed in these high-risk individuals include skin infections, sinusitis, food poisoning, nosocomial infections, and opportunistic infections.