Clinton Barnes, a 69-year-old man with an indwelling catheter, has a high fever.

Question

Clinton Barnes, a 69-year-old man with an indwelling catheter, has a high fever. Dr. Newberry has examined him and has ordered blood cultures to find out if there are pathogens in Mr. Barnes's blood. What organisms may be found? Does the indwelling catheter play a role in his problem? If so, what role does it play? List some of the possible illnesses Mr. Barnes may have.  

Dr. Hill has ordered amniotic fluid testing on Mary Walsh, a 25-year-old pregnant woman, in order to determine fetal maturity. Under what circumstances would fetal maturity testing be necessary? Identify and describe fetal maturity test(s), the substances tested, and how the substances help determine fetal age.

Elsie Elliason, a 70-year-old woman, was admitted to the emergency department of the hospital with severe vomiting and diarrhea. She has been experiencing these symptoms for the past several days. The physician suspects that she is experiencing hypokalemia. What electrolyte test would the physician order to confirm hypokalemia and what might the result be? Why is this particular electrolyte important to normal body function? What effect did Ms. Elliason's physical symptoms have on the electrolyte?

Explanation / Answer

1.Most of the indwelling cathetre blood infections remain highly prevalent and result in significant mortality rates.The most common pathogens or bacteria in blood infections caused by cathetres are Staphylococcus aureus and candida species.Yes indwelling cathetre can play a role in his problem ,as it has become an integral part in managing the patients who are not contaminated with cathetres.It is very common during dialysis,antibiotic administration,chemotherapy administration etc.It may lead to infective endocarditis ,metastatic infections,low and high serum albumin levels and many.

2.Fetal maturity tests are the diagnostic procedures to evaluate the readiness of the fetus for extrauterine survival.The pulmonary system is among the last of the fetal organ systems to mature both functionally and structurally.Thus fetal lung maturation is the marker for maturity.Fluorescence polarization,lamellar body count,phosphatidyl glycecerol presence and lecithin sphingomyelin ratio is the sequence to be followed.

3.Hypokalemia is the low levels of potassium in the blood serum.tests like serum potassium-magnesium assay and ECG to be done to confirm hypokalemia.Potassium levels(<3.5) and also other electrolyte levels gets decreased due to continous vomiting and diarrhoea.Potassium is crucial for heart function and plays a key role in skeletal and smooth muscle contraction making it important for normal digestive and muscular function.Symptoms like elevation in blood pressure,muscle weakness,tremor,muscle cramps ,constipation etc can be observed.

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