Question

Community Case: Communicable Disease: Tuberculosis Case Part 1 Bradley Buchanan presents to the neighborhood nurse-run clinic with shortness of breath, a persistent cough with blood-tinged sputum, recent weight loss, and night sweats. On initial assessment, the client has a fever of 101.4°F and pain in his chest. His other vital signs are as follows: pulse 98 beats per minute, respirations 26 per minute, blood pressure 110/76 mm Hg, height 68 inches, and weight 140 pounds. Mr. Buchanan is 45 years old. He is employed as a dishwasher at a local restaurant and lives at the local shelter with his wife, who is 8 months pregnant, and his 13-year-old son. Mr. Buchanan is concerned that if he cannot go to work, he will lose the family's only income. At this point, although Mr. Buchanan's signs and symptoms and his purified protein derivative test results seem to indicate that he may have tuberculosis, the nurse must pursue further confirmation of the diagnosis Questions for students: 1. What would be the nurse's nest action? 2. Should the nurse do any testing on the client or his family!

Answer 1

Answer: Tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. This mainly affects the lungs. The nurse should perform the Mantoux test. This is also known as TST. The blood test also reveals about the elevated white blood cells which indicate the presence of infection. The X- ray of the chest also clarify the presence of lung infection.

The nurse should test the family members specially the pregnant women. Because tuberculosis is a communicable diseases and it can be easily transmitted through sputum, bodily fluid of the patients.