Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques Flashcards
Leukocytes are typically ______ in the presence of infection which is called _______.
elevated
leukocytosis
What are granulocytes?
neutrophils
eosinophils
basophils
What are agranulocytes?
lymphocytes
monocytes
What are the different white blood cells from most to least abundant?
Never let monkeys eat bananas
neutrophils
lymphocytes
monocytes
eosinophils
basophils
When do we see neutrophils?
bacterial infections
fungal infections
physiological stress
What cell arrives first at an infection?
neutrophils
What is a left shift?
Increase in immature neutrophils/bands due to increase in proliferation due to an early acute bacterial infection
When do we see lymphocytes?
viral infections
leukemias and lymphomas
What are the types of lymphocytes?
B cells
T cells
Natural killer cells
Where are most lymphocytes?
In the lymph
When do we see monocytes?
Late or chronic infection
What can monocytes turn into?
Macrophages
What is the largest WBC?
Monocytes
When do we see eosinophils?
Allergic reactions
parasitic infections
chronic skin conditions
Where are eosinophils most commonly found?
skin, airways, blood
When do we see basophils?
hypersensitivity reactions
What do basophils release?
inflammatory mediators (histamine, leukotrienes, serotonin)
What is the least common cause of leukocytosis?
Basophils
Why don’t we do a UA on the first pee of the morning?
Want urine that has only been in the bladder for 2-3 hours
What does cloudy/turbiness indicate?
Pyuria/ infection in the urine
What are nitrites?
Produced by gram negative bacteria, indicates infection
What is leukocyte esterase?
enzyme produced by WBC, indicates infection
What do casts indicate?
Kidney infection
What do epithelial cells indicate?
Contamination
What do clue cells indicate?
Bacterial vaginosis
What do protozoans indicate?
Trichomonas
What is a KOH prep used for?
Visualization of fungal cells (budding yeast and pseudohyphae)
Where is a lumbar puncture preformed?
L3-L4 or L4-L5
What are the CSF analysis tubes?
- Cell count and differential
- Glucose and protein levels
- Gram stain, C&S
- Other
What does increased CSF pressure indicate?
Infection, tumors, intracranial bleed
What does decreased CSF pressure indicate?
Dehydration, CSF leak
What color is normal for CSF
Clear and colorless
What does cloudy/turbid CSF indicate?
infection
What does xanthochromia indicate? (yellow)
Bleeding
What does thick CSF indicate?
infection or malignancy
What do RBCs in CSF indicate?
Bleed or traumatic tap
What does a low CSF glucose indicate?
infection, malignancy
What does elevated protein in the CSF indicate?
infection, malignancy, autoimmune disease
What does lactic acid show in CSF?
elevated in bacterial and fungal infections
What does lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) indicate?
elevated in bacterial infections and leukemia
What does C-Reactive Protein indicate?
elevated with inflammation and bacterial infection
What does transudate on a pleural fluid analysis indicate?
An imbalance between the pressure within blood vessels and the amount of protein in the blood, causing an accumulation of fluid.
Caused by CHF or cirrhosis
What does exudate on a pleural fluid analysis indicate?
caused by injury or inflammation of the pleura resulting in pleural effusion.
Caused by infectious disease, bleeding, inflammatory conditions, malignancies
What is light’s criteria used for?
Determines if pleural fluid is transudative or exudative
What does white pleural fluid indicate?
Lymphatic system involvement
What does reddish pleural fluid indicate?
Blood
What does cloudy thick pleural fluid indicate?
Microorganisms and WBC
Why do you preform a arthrocentesis?
To diagnose the cause of joint effusion
What viscosity is normal for a arthrocentesis?
Stringy
Can a chest x-ray give a diagnosis?
yes but not the underlying cause!
So PNA but not the causative organism
What organisms hold a gram stain?
Gram + due to layers of peptidoglycan
What stain to atypicals take?
They typically do not stain
What are the indications for stool cultures?
Diarrhea for several days
Ingestion of suspect foods
Recent international travel
What does rust colored sputum indicate?
Streptococcus pneumoniae
What does yellow green sputum indicate?
Haemophilus influenzae
What does green sputum indicate?
Pseudomonas
What does red currant jelly sputum indicate?
Klebsiella
What does bloody sputum indicate?
TB
What does foul smelling/tasting sputum indicate?
anaerobes
What does thin/scant sticky sputum indicate?
atypicals-mycoplasma pneumoniae, chlamydia pneumoniae
