Pathophysiology of Why at High Risk of Infection - Research Paper Example

Assessing Risk of Infection Here Here Here Here Assessing Risk of Infection The patient in this case has a high risk of contracting infection throughout the surgical process because of many interacting factors (Parsons, 2009). Mr. Baker’s sex and age present immediate disadvantages, though not as much as the intestinal nature of his prescribed surgery and the high bacterial content associated with the area (Biondo et al., 2012). His history as a coal miner and heavy cigarette smoking has almost certainly had a seriously detrimental impact on his respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

The presence of cancer and the likelihood of concurrent or previous treatments like radiation and/or steroids are both variables that can raise the probability of contracting an infection and may exacerbate any that come to exist. Additionally, the patient has an increased risk of infection due to having diabetes, and even the anxiety he experiences about the procedure can negatively impact the body. All of the factors described above can contribute to the compromising of the immune system and the subsequent colonization of infectious organisms.

Post-operative influences are also important in the assessment of Mr. Baker’s risk for contracting an infection. Though incompetence is far from a certainty, the inexperience of the patient’s assigned nurse may increase the risk of infection. Perhaps more obvious is the threat of infection arising from the use of several invasive instruments during the post-operative care period. IVs, PCA punts, nasogastric tubes, and nasal cannulas are all valuable tools but they can also provide both entry points for infections as well as locations for microorganisms to amass.

Direct entry is provided in every IV and PCA situation because puncturing the skin is necessary in both cases. In contrast, nasogastric tubes and cannulas are ideally meant to be implemented without tissue penetration, but scratches and cuts are practically unavoidable, especially in an emergency.ReferencesBiondo, S., Kreisler, E., Fraccalvieri, D., Basany, E. E., Codina‐Cazador, A., & Ortiz, H. (2012). Risk factors for surgical site infection after elective resection for rectal cancer. A multivariate analysis on 2131 patients.

Colorectal Disease, 14(3), e95-e102.Parsons, D. P. (2009). Preoperative evaluation and risk management. Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery, 22(1), 5.