NURS 471 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Antibiotics, Trachea, Urokinase
Document Summary
Myelosuppression- bone marrow makes too few cells to replace worn out cells. Nadir: point at which the lowest blood cell count is reached after chemotherapy. Usually occurs at about 7-14 days: neutropenia is the single most dose-limiting toxicity of chemotherapy (#1 reason patients will not receive their chemotherapy) Anc will indicate relative risk for infection: 1500-1000: low risk, 1000-500: moderate risk, 500-0: severe risk, hold chemo if risk is severe or sometimes moderate. Fever may be the only sign of infection the immunocompromised patient can exhibit. Infection is a major cause of mortality in patients with ca. 55%-75% of fevers in oncology patients are caused by infection. Pancultures-blood, sputum, urine, discharge & drainage, invasive lines. Colony stimulating factors (ie. filgrastim/pelfilgrasim neulasta)- help stimulate production of monocytes, ***. Given no sooner than 24 hours after chemo: prevention is key. Handwashing is still the #1 way to reduce incidence of infection!!! Low circulating platelets: normal= 150,000- 400,000.
