Integumentary Disorders of the Adult Client Flashcards
Burn
Cell destruction of the layers of the skin caused by heat, friction, electricity, radiation, or chemicals.
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that has an affinity for hemoglobin 200 times greater than that of oxygen. Poising occurs from the inhalation of carbon monoxide. Oxygen molecules are displaced and carbon monoxide reversibly binds to hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin. Tissue hypoxia results.
Deep full-thickness burn
Injury extends beyond the skin into underlying fascia and tissues, and muscle, bone, and tendons are damaged. Appears black and sensation is completely absent. Eschar is hard and inelastic; lack of pain due to nerve endings destruction. Healing is months with grafts required.
Deep partial-thickness burn
Injury extends deep into the dermis.
No blisters; Wound surface is red and dry with white areas in deeper part; May or may not blanch; moderate edema. Can convert to full-thickness burn if tissue damage increases with infection, hypoxia, or ischemia.
Heals 3-6 weeks; scar formation and skin grafting may be needed.
Full-thickness burn
Involves injury and destruction of the epidermis and the dermis. Will not heal by reepithelialiazation; grafting may be needed. Dry, hard, leathery eschar; waxy white, deep red, yellow, brown or black; edema; sensation is reduced. Healing weeks-months. Burn requires removal of eschar. Scarring.
Herpes zoster (shingles)
An acute viral infection of the nerve structure caused by varicella-zoster. Herpes zoster is contagious to individuals who never had chickenpox and have not been vaccinated against the disease.
Pressure ulcer
Area of tissue damage that occurs as a result of skin and underlying soft tissue compression from pressure between a surface and a bony prominence.
Shingles
Same as the herpes zoster infection. An acute viral infection of the nerve structure caused by varicella-zoster. Herpes zoster is contagious to individuals who never had chickenpox and have not been vaccinated against the disease.
Skin cancer
A malignant lesion of the skin that may or may not metastasize.
Smoke inhalation injury
Respiratory injury that occurs due to inhalation of products of combustion during a fire.
Superficial partial-thickness burn
Involves injury that extends into the dermis; blood supply reduces.
Large blisters; edema; mottled pink to red base, broke epidermis with wet, shiny, weeping surface. Painful and sensitive to cold air. Heals 10-21 days with no scarring, but may have pigment changes. Grafts may be used if healing process is prolonged.
Superficial-thickness burn
Involves injury to the epidermis; blood supply to the dermis still intact.
Mild-severe erythema (pink to red), no blisters.
Skin blanches with pressure; pain is eased by cooling. Discomfort last 48 hours, healing occurs in 3-6 days. No scarring.
The skin is the largest ______ of the body.
sensory organ
Layers of the skin
- Epidermis
- Dermis
- Hypodermis (subcutaneous fat)
Epidermal appendages
- Nails
- Hair
- Glands (Sebaceous & Sweat)
Normal bacterial flora
- Gram-positive and gram-negative staphylococci
- Pseudomonas sp.
- Streptococcus sp.
A pH of _____ halts the growth of bacteria
4.2-5.6
Risk Factors for Integumentary Disorders
- Exposure to chemical and environmental pollutants
- Exposure to radiation
- Race and age
- Exposure to sun or indoor tanning
- Lack of personal hygiene habits
- Harsh soaps
- Medication (long-term use of glucocorticoid and herbals)
- Nutritional deficits
- Infection
- Repeated injury and irritation
- Genetics predisposition
- Systemic illnesses
Phases of Wound Healing
- Inflammatory
- Fibroblastic
- Maturation
Inflammatory Phase
Begins at time of injury and lasts 3-5 days;
Local edema, pain, redness, and heat.
Fibroblastic Phase
Begins the 4th day after injury and last 2-4 weeks;
Scar tissue forms and granulation tissue forms in the tissue bed.
Maturation Phase
Begins as early as 3 weeks after the injury and may last 1 year;
Scar tissue becomes thinner and is firm and inelastic on palpation.
Healing by intention - First Intention
Wound edges are approximated and held in place (ex. with sutures) until healing occurs; wound if easily closed and dead space is eliminated.
Healing by intention - Second Intention
Occurs with injuries or wounds that have tissue loss and require gradual filling in of the dead space with connective tissue.
Healing by intention - Third Intention
Involves delayed primary closure and occurs with wounds that are intentionally left open for several days for irrigation or removal of debris and exudates; once debris has been removed and inflammation resolves, the wound is closed by first intention.
Types of Exudate from Wounds
- Serous
- Serosanguineous
- Sanguineous
- Hemorrhaging
- Purulent
Serous
Clear or straw colored; Occurs as a normal part of the healing process.
Serosanguineous
Pink colored due to the presence of a small amount of blood cells mixed with serous drainage. Normal part of the healing process.
Sanguineous
Red drainage from trauma to a blood vessel; May occur with wound cleansing or other trauma to wound bed; Is uncommon in wounds.
Hemorrhaging
Frank blood from a leaking blood vessel; may required emergency treatment to control bleeding; Is an abnormal wound exudate.
Purulent
Yellow, gray, or green drainage due to infection in the wound.
Skin Biopsy
The collection of a small piece of skin tissue by punch, excisional, or shave.
Skin/wound cultures
A small skin culture obtained with a sterile applicator and culture tube. Scraping, punch biopsy and collecting fluid.
Wood’s light examination
Skin is viewed under ultraviolet light through a special glass (Wood’s glass) to identify superficial infections of the skin. Need room darkened.
Diascopy
Technique allows clearer inspection of lesions by eliminating the erythema caused by increased blood flow to the area. A glass is pressed over the lesion, causing blanching and revealing the lesion more clearly.
Candida albicans
Superficial fungal infection of the skin and mucous membranes (Yeast infection, or thrush).
Common areas: mouth, perineum, vagina, axilla, under breasts.
Risk factors: immunosuppression, cancer clients, long-term antibiotics, diabetes, obesity.
Candida albicans - Assessment Findings
- Skin: red, irritated - itches and stings
2. Mucous membranes: red and whitish patches
Candida albicans - Interventions
- Keep skin fold areas clean and dry
- Inspect skin folds frequently, reposition, bed linens clean and dry
- mouth care
- Food and fluids that are tepid in temp and nonirritating to mucous membranes
- antifungal medications
Herpes Zoster (Shingles)
Varicella-zoster; Occurs is a segmental distribution on the skin along the infected nerve. Diagnosed by visual exam and by Tzanck smear and viral culture.
Herpes Zoster (Shingles)- the dormant virus is located in the…
dorsal nerve root ganglia of the sensory cranial and spinal nerve.
Herpes simplex virus is another type of virus with Type 1 infection causes ___ and Type 2 causes ____.
cold sore; genital herpes
Herpes Zoster (Shingles) - Assessment Findings
- Unilaterally clustered skin vesicles along peripheral sensory nerves on the trunk, thorax, or face.
- Fever, malaise
- Burning and pain
- Paresthesia
- Pruritus
Zostavax vaccine
for Shingles; recommended for adults 60 years of age and older to reduce the risk of occurrence and the associated long-term pain.
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
Health care associated infection; Skin or wound becomes infected with MRSA. Infection can range from mild to severe and can present as folliculitis or furuncles. If MRSA infects the blood, sepsis, organ damage, and death can occur.
Folliculitis
superficial infection of the follicle caused by Staphylococcus and presents as a raised red rash and pustules; furuncles are also caused by Staphylococcus and occur deep in the follicle, presenting very painful large raised bumps that may or may not have a pustule.
Erysipelas
An acute, superficial, rapidly spreading inflammation of the dermis and lymphatics caused by group A Streptococcus, which enters the tissue via an abrasion, bite, trauma, or wound.