2. One of the SIRS criteria is a partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) that is:
a. above 50 mm Hg.
b. above 43 mm Hg.
c. below 40 mm Hg.
d. below 32 mm Hg.
3. A patient with documented sepsis who develops acute organ dysfunction but lacks life- threatening hypotension has which of the following?
a. Distributive shock
b. Septic shock
c. Severe sepsis
d. Moderate sepsis
4. The most common cause of death among patients in noncoronary critical care units is:
a. moderate sepsis.
b. severe sepsis.
c. SIRS.
d. sepsis.
5. Which of the following is a common physiologic response to sepsis?
a. Capillaries become more permeable.
b. Capillaries become less permeable.
c. Hypertension occurs.
d. Blood pressure remains unchanged.
6. The release of proinflammatory mediators that occurs with sepsis causes:
a. changes in clotting and lysis.
b. a switch from anaerobic to aerobic metabolism.
c. increased oxygenation.
d. formation of macrothrombi in the capillaries.
7. During organ failure from sepsis, which of the following may occur?
a. Metabolic alkalosis arises.
b. The bilirubin level decreases.
c. Drug metabolism increases.
d. GI peristalsis slows.
8. Which patient is at highest risk for sepsis?
a. A 65-year-old man who had a laparoscopic knee exam and is a vegetarian.
b. A 25-year-old woman who had an appendectomy and recently broke her leg.
c. A 75-year-old man with lung cancer who is on chemotherapy.
d. A 50-year-old woman who swims 3 days a week and has diabetes.
9. Which protocol specifies that physical signs of SIRS, patient history consistent with an infection, and signs or symptoms of hypotension or hypoperfusion warrant a sepsis alert?
a. Denver Sepsis Protocol
b. Seattle Sepsis Protocol
c. Surviving Sepsis Protocol
d. Organ Failure Protocol
10. An agitated patient has a heart rate of 100 beats/minute, systolic pressure of 100 mm Hg, respiratory rate of 26 breaths/minute, oxygen saturation of 100%, and urine output of 90 mL for the past 4 hours. This patient’s score on Britain’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence early warning system for sepsis is:
a. 1.
b. 2.
c. 4.
d. 6.
11. Which assessment finding indicates your patient with sepsis might be experiencing organ failure?
a. Increased D-dimer level
b. Decreased serum creatinine level
c. Urine output below 1 mL/hour
d. Oxygen saturation of 95%
12. The best noninvasive way to gauge tissue perfusion in patients with sepsis is to measure:
a. systolic blood pressure.
b. diastolic blood pressure.
c. mean arterial pressure.
d. right-arm blood pressure.
13. A sign of hypoperfusion is a serum lactate level of:
a. 1 mmol/L.
b. 2 mmol/L.
c. 3 mmol/L.
d. 5 mmol/L.
14. Which statement about fluid resuscitation in patients with severe sepsis is correct?
a. Patients may need 8 to 12 L of fluid during the first 48 hours.
b. Patients may need 6 to 10 L of fluid during the first 24 hours.
c. Central venous pressure should be kept at 5 mm Hg.
d. Central venous pressure should be kept at 2 mm Hg.
15. Which of the following actions can help prevent sepsis?
a. Keeping I.V. lines in place for at least 48 hours
b. Keeping I.V. lines in place for at least 72 hours
c. Mobilizing patients early and often
d. Mobilizing patients after 2 days