You provide education for the family about the laboratory findings. Which of the following statements correctly describes the medical importance of a bacterial capsule?

You are a RN working at an urban low-income medical clinic when a young woman enters crying. She is 19 years old and 28 weeks pregnant with her second child. The woman reports that she woke this morning to find she was leaking milky-colored fluid vaginally. Her first child was born 6 weeks early due to premature rupture of membranes and she is worried this is happening again. You reassure the patient, explain that a vaginal speculum exam will be performed, and educate her about specimens that will be collected. Once the proper specimens are obtained and appropriately labeled, the wet mount and culturette are sent to the laboratory for processing.

Ms. Hungh’s microscopy results are inconclusive. Culturing of the sputum is performed in order to isolate microbial growth for further analysis. Lowenstein-Jensen medium is utilized to allow the growth of Mycobacterium species if present in the sample, while preventing unwanted background organisms. What is the proper term for this type of medium?

Which diagnostic method would most effectively confirm the presence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)?

What is the most effective strategy for preventing hospital-acquired infections?

Which test demonstrates the composition and distribution of proteins in CSF?

Select the correct statement(s) regarding birefringence.

Cholesterol crystals present in a milky/white fluid are indicative of a

What is the normal volume of CSF in a neonate?

Ms. Smith is a 29-year-old patient at the outpatient psychiatric clinic. While completing her assessment you notice her hands are red, raw, and show signs of recent bleeding. She explains that she washes all her clothes in bleach, and uses the chemical to clean her hands several times a day. She states “I need to sterilize myself and my environment of all germs so I do not get sick.” While developing her nursing plan of care, you educate her about the importance of bacteria to the health and well being of not only humans, but also our planet.