Ch 15 Signs & Symptoms

Question 1

Signs & Symptoms of Septicemia, Bacteremia, & Toxemia

Answer 1

Fever, Chills, Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea, & Malaise.
Septic Shock can develop rapidly.
Small hemorrhagic lesions called Petechiae can develop.
Osteomyelitis occurs if bacteria invades the bones.

Question 2

Osteomyelitis =

Answer 2

Inflammation/ swelling of the bone

Question 3

Toxemia symptoms vary depending on-

Answer 3

The toxin

Question 4

Released from microbes =

Answer 4

Exotoxins

Question 5

Released from gram-negative bacteria (Like Lipid A) =

Answer 5

Endotoxin

Question 6

Septicemia & Toxemia are caused by-

Answer 6

Various bacteria

Question 7

Septicemia & Toxemia can be -

Answer 7

Gram-Negative or Gram-Positive

Question 8

Septicemia & Toxemia are usually-

Answer 8

Opportunistic or Healthcare-Associated Infections

Question 9

Septicemia is most often caused by-

Answer 9

Gram-Negative Bacteria

Question 10

1 in 3 patients in a hospital who dies, has this.

Answer 10

Sepsis

Question 11

What abbreviation can help you remember what to look out for whenever it comes to sepsis?

Answer 11

“It’s about TIME”

Temp (Higher/Lower than normal)
Infection
Mental Decline (Confused, Sleepy, Lethargic)
Extremely Ill (Severe Pain, Discomfort, SOB)

Question 12

Regular Sepsis Signs + Symptoms =

Answer 12

TIME

Question 13

Severe Sepsis occurs when-

Answer 13

One or more organs become damaged

Question 14

What are the Signs + Symptoms of Severe Sepsis?

Answer 14

Changes in skin color.
Oliguria.
Heart Dysrhythmia.
Dizziness/ Light Headedness.
Chills.
Difficulty Breathing.
Extreme Weakness.

Question 15

Occurs when BP drops too low=

Answer 15

Septic Shock

Question 16

Signs + Symptoms of Septic Shock =

Answer 16

Tachycardia.
Dizziness/ Light-Headedness.
Lower than normal body temp.
Tachypnea.

Question 17

How are Septicemia, Bacteremia, and Toxemia usually treated?

Answer 17

Prompt Diagnosis + Administration of Antimicrobial Drugs

Question 18

If sepsis is suspected, how can you definitively diagnose it?

Answer 18

Blood Labs

Question 19

Why is aseptic technique important when drawing blood from a potential Septic PT?

Answer 19

So cultures don’t get contaminated with normal skin flora microbes

Question 20

When drawing blood from a potential Septic PT, what kinds of bottles do you use, how many mL per bottle, how many bottles each per draw?

Answer 20

~10 mL of blood should be gathered with each blood draw.
Draw for Anaerobic Bottles + Aerobic Bottles.
(Every time you draw, you get a different bottle. By the time you’re done, you should have 2 Anaerobic bottles + 2 Aerobic Bottles with ~10 mL of blood each)