Infection? Risk for infection?

[heidi94]

Hello! I'm trying to do a care plan on a patient with a foot ulcer which is infected. She is also on immunosupressants and diabetes, both of which are risk factors for infection. Obviously she already has a foot infection, but can I still but risk for infection as a nursing diagnosis? She could acquire another unrelated infection in the hospital, or get another microorganism in her foot ulcer. Or would I just use infection as my Dx? Any other suggestions for nursing dx would be appreciated! Thank you!

[Seaofclouds, BSN, RN]

Yes, you can still put that she has a risk for infection as well, for all the reasons you stated in your post.

[springchick1, ADN, RN]

My clinical instructor would not have accepted risk for infection as a nursing diagnosis because the patient already has an active infection. Infection would be fine. I guess it depends on how your instructor is but I wouldn't use it.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

I'm not one of the nursing dx gurus on AN, but "infection" is a medical dx. You could make a dx relating to how she is *responding* to the infection. How is her nutrition--very important for wound healing. Is the wound affecting her activity tolerance? Does she have pain? How is she coping with the hospitalization and treatment plan? Her skin integrity is impaired, right? With infection comes risk for shock, right?

You're absolutely right though, that she is at risk for another infection, so "risk for infection" would apply.