S2 · Likely to catch an infection
Risk Safety and protection
Definition
Wounds, lines, weak defenses, or exposure raise the chance of infection.- Open wound
- invasive lines
- low immunity
- diabetes
- poor hygiene
- surgery
- Fever
- redness
- warmth
- pus
- raised white cell count
- new confusion
📋 Scenario
A patient with a central line and chemotherapy has a high risk of infection.
Subjective (S): "I have a catheter line in my chest."
Objective (O): Central line in place; low white cell count (1.2); on chemotherapy; temperature 37.2 C; line site clean.
Assessment tools for this scenario: CP-SAFE Safety & Falls Score CP-INFECT Infection Check
Validated scales to consider: Morse Fall Scale, qSOFA / sepsis screen
**CarePath diagnosis:** Likely to catch an infection related to a central line, chemotherapy, and a low white cell count (risk factors); no signs of the problem are present yet.
**Interventions and rationale**
| Intervention | Rationale |
|---|---|
| Wash hands. | Hand washing removes germs from the hands, the most common way infection is carried to a patient with weak defenses. |
| Use clean technique for dressings and lines. | Clean technique for dressings and lines stops germs from entering the bloodstream through the central line. |
| Monitor temperature. | Fever may be the earliest sign of infection in someone with a low white cell count, so regular checks catch it early. |
| Teach hygiene. | Teaching hygiene, such as handwashing and keeping the line site dry, lets the patient reduce germs between nursing visits. |
| Report early signs. | Early reporting of signs such as fever, redness or chills allows quick treatment before infection spreads in a patient with low immunity. |
**Expected outcomes**
- No fever, redness, or pus at the line site.
- Blood tests show no infection.
- Hands cleaned before every contact.
- Patient reports early signs.
**Linking the data to the diagnosis**
The patient has a central line, is on chemotherapy, and has a low white cell count of 1.2. Their temperature is 37.2 C and the line site is clean, so there is no fever, redness or pus. Infection has not occurred, so this is a risk diagnosis resting on the line and weak defenses, not an actual infection. The patient says they have a catheter line in the chest. The plan aims for no fever, redness or pus at the line site, blood tests showing no infection, hands cleaned before every contact, and the patient reporting early signs.
CarePath diagnosis
Likely to catch an infection related to a central line, chemotherapy, and a low white cell count (risk factors); no signs of the problem are present yet.
Interventions and rationale
Listed in priority order.
| Intervention | Rationale |
|---|---|
| 1. Wash hands. | Hand washing removes germs from the hands, the most common way infection is carried to a patient with weak defenses. |
| 2. Use clean technique for dressings and lines. | Clean technique for dressings and lines stops germs from entering the bloodstream through the central line. |
| 3. Monitor temperature. | Fever may be the earliest sign of infection in someone with a low white cell count, so regular checks catch it early. |
| 4. Teach hygiene. | Teaching hygiene, such as handwashing and keeping the line site dry, lets the patient reduce germs between nursing visits. |
| 5. Report early signs. | Early reporting of signs such as fever, redness or chills allows quick treatment before infection spreads in a patient with low immunity. |
Expected outcomes
- No fever, redness, or pus at the line site.
- Blood tests show no infection.
- Hands cleaned before every contact.
- Patient reports early signs.
Linking the data to the diagnosis
The patient has a central line, is on chemotherapy, and has a low white cell count of 1.2. Their temperature is 37.2 C and the line site is clean, so there is no fever, redness or pus. Infection has not occurred, so this is a risk diagnosis resting on the line and weak defenses, not an actual infection. The patient says they have a catheter line in the chest. The plan aims for no fever, redness or pus at the line site, blood tests showing no infection, hands cleaned before every contact, and the patient reporting early signs.