Risk for infection
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2008-07-12T13:19:16Z
Sceptre
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Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/199.91.37.33|199.91.37.33]] to last version by 24.230.168.82 (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]])
'''Risk for infection''' is a [[nursing diagnosis]] which is defined as "the state in which an individual is at risk to be invaded by an [[Opportunistic infection|opportunistic]] or [[Pathogen|pathogenic]] agent ([[virus]], [[fungus]], [[bacteria]], [[protozoa]], or other [[parasite]]) from [[endogenous]] or [[exogenous]] sources"<ref>Carpenito, L. J. (Ed.). (2002). ''Nursing diagnosis: Application to clinical practice'' (9th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, ISBN 0-7817-3319-7</ref> and was approved by [[NANDA]] in 1986. Although anyone can become infected by a pathogen, patients with this diagnosis are at an elevated risk and extra infection controls should be considered.
==Related factors==
There are a large number of factors that can increase a patient's risk of infection. Examples of risk factors includes decreased [[immune system]] secondary to disease, compromised [[Circulatory system|circulation]] secondary to [[peripheral vascular disease]], compromised skin integrity secondary to surgery, or repeated contact with contagious agents.
==Assessment==
The patient should be asked about a history of repeated infections, symptoms of infection, recent travel to high-risk areas, and their [[immunization]] history. They should also be assessed for objective signs such as the presence of wounds, fever, or signs of nutritional deficiency
==Intervention==
The specific nursing interventions will depend on the nature and severity of the risk. Patients should be taught how to recognize the signs of infection and how to reduce their risk. Surgery is a frequent risk factor for infection and a physician may prescribe [[antibiotics]] [[Prophylaxis|prophylactically]]. Immunization is another common medical intervention for those who are at high risk for infection.
==References==
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[[Category:Nursing diagnoses]]
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