Certified Respiratory Therapist Practice Exam

Which index is NOT useful in determining the presence of bacterial infection?

1. Elevated WBC count

2. Low-grade fever

3. Patient's subjective pain

4. Productive cough with mucus

The correct answer is: Patient's subjective pain

The presence of a bacterial infection in a patient is commonly assessed through various clinical signs and laboratory results. An elevated white blood cell (WBC) count is a well-established indicator of infection, as its increase often signifies the body’s immune response to pathogens. Similarly, a low-grade fever can indicate an infection as the body raises its temperature to help fight off bacteria. Productive cough with mucus is another significant factor; the characteristics of the sputum can provide vital clues regarding the nature of the infection, suggesting the presence of bacterial pathogens if the sputum is purulent or thick. In contrast, a patient’s subjective pain is not a definitive index for determining bacterial infection. While pain can provide information about a condition and its severity, it is highly variable and subjective. Patients may experience pain due to various reasons, including non-infectious causes, making it less reliable for assessing bacterial infections specifically. Thus, while subjective symptoms like pain are important in the overall clinical picture, they do not serve as a consistent or objective measure of bacterial infection.