Infection Questions

A patient with acute Hepatitis B is admitted with nausea, anorexia, and RUQ pain. Which of the following is the priority nursing intervention?

• Encourage a high-protein diet

• Monitor for signs of bleeding

• Administer antiviral therapy immediately

• Prepare the patient for liver biopsy

Which of the following patients are at increased risk for chronic Hepatitis C?

• A nurse accidentally stuck with a clean needle

• A person who received a blood transfusion in 1988

• A baby born to an HCV-positive mother

• A man who injects heroin and shares needles

• A traveler who recently drank contaminated water abroad

A patient with acute Hepatitis A is experiencing fatigue, nausea, and jaundice. Which discharge teaching should the nurse prioritize?

• You will need lifelong antiviral medication

• Avoid alcohol until liver enzymes normalize

• You should isolate yourself from family for 6 months

• Start a low-protein, high-fat diet for liver support

A patient with chronic Hepatitis C has the following labs: ALT 92, AST 85, Albumin 2.7, INR 1.5, Ammonia 45. Which interpretation is most accurate?

• The patient is experiencing an acute Hep C flare

• These results are consistent with progressing liver dysfunction

• The patient's liver function is improving

• These values suggest fulminant hepatic failure

Which lab value would be most concerning in a patient with advanced liver disease?

• Albumin 4.0 g/dL

• INR 2.0

• AST 25 U/L

• Platelet count 250,000/mm³

A patient with known cirrhosis reports increasing abdominal girth and shortness of breath. What is the nurse's priority action?

• Weigh the patient daily

• Position the patient upright

• Request an order for paracentesis

• Measure abdominal girth

Which finding best indicates effectiveness of lactulose in a cirrhotic patient with encephalopathy?

• Three soft stools daily

• Ammonia level of 90 µmol/L

• Improved appetite

• Elevated liver enzymes

A patient with Hepatitis B asks how the infection could have occurred. Which response by the nurse is most accurate?

• It is spread by contaminated food or water

• It is transmitted through contact with infected blood or body fluids

• It is primarily caused by autoimmune reactions

• It is transmitted by inhaling viral droplets

Which medication should the nurse question for a patient with cirrhosis and ascites?

• Furosemide

• Spironolactone

• Acetaminophen

• Lactulose

A cirrhotic patient develops hematemesis. What is the nurse's first priority?

• Insert a nasogastric tube

• Notify the provider

• Check the patient's INR

• Elevate the head of the bed and ensure airway patency