Case Study

Abstract

This research paper is about the case study of Vivienne, a 45 years old woman. She got a cut while working in the garden and was treated with booster tetanus injection. Her treatment and effects of the medicines are also discussed in the research paper.

Case Study

Question 1: Explain why a booster tetanus injection was given to Vivienne?

Vivienne was 45 years old. She was digging compost in her garden, where she accidentally got a 4cm deep cut to her right calf. She was taken to the hospital where she got the treatment of the injury. The wound was cleaned and sutured. The doctor vaccinated her with a booster tetanus injection and she was sent back to home. Tetanus is an acute infectious disease caused by a toxin produced by the tetanus bacillus. The bacillus can survive in soil for a long time in the form of spores. The spores can penetrate the tissues through skin wounds, even minor, lacerations, burns contaminated with soil or dust or through injecting drugs with dirty needles. (Zhokovsky, 2009)

Question 2: Describe the physiological basis of any three of her wound observations. Relate your response to the case study.

Vivienne started having pain and fever after being injected the booster tetanus injection and was brought back to the hospital. Her wounds changed their appearance, they wound's edges turned red, the tissues that were surrounded got swollen, they were hot when touched and an odorous discharge was observed. The physiological basis of the three observed conditions of the wound can be the adverse reaction of the booster tetanus injection which by which she was treated. Vivienne temperature was 38.2°C, Pulse 100 beats/minute, Blood Pressure 130/80 mmHg, and her Respiration was 22 breaths/minute

On inspection of her wound, it was concluded that she has a wound infection caused by the adverse reaction of booster tetanus injection. If the wound begins to drain yellow or greenish fluid (pus), or if the skin around the wound becomes red, warm, swollen, or increasingly painful; a wound infection may be present. This infection (lymphangitis) can be serious, especially if it is accompanied by a fever.

Question 3: Explain how Vivienne's fever developed and state two benefits of fever?

Vivienne got fever because she was vaccinated with booster tetanus injection. There were also mild reactions on the injection site (redness, indurations, and pain), fever and general malaise minor. The administration of the vaccine can cause very rarely, allergic reactions and Vivienne was one of the suffered. The benefits of fever are that fever helps the body destroy the invading microbe. It also stimulates an inflammatory response, which sends all kinds of substances to the site of infection to protect prevent the spread of the invader and begin the healing process.

Question 4: Name two most likely sources of the contamination of the wound by S. aureus and explain how the organism was transmitted to the wound from each source.

Staphylococcus aureus, is a bacterium facultative anaerobic, gram-positive, producing coagulase , catalase , immobile and non spore that is ...