healing process. Increased cellular
respiration produced hydrogen peroxide,
which was leading to metabolic acidosis.
To maintain a normal acid-base balance,
the patient’s body had to expel carbon
dioxide so her respiration rate was high.
Her blood pressure was at the lower end
of normal because, as the membranes
open to allow phagocytes to pass to the
invading organism, a fluid compartment
shift occured, resulting in oedema.
To compensate for this oedema, maintain
adequate blood pressure and deliver more
phagocytes to the infected organ, the
patient’s pulse rate had increased.