When providing care for a client receiving peritoneal dialysis, the nurse notices that the effluent is cloudy. Which intervention is most important for the nurse to carry out?
a. Irrigate the peritoneal catheter with saline.
b. Send a specimen for culture and sensitivi-ty.
c. Document the finding in the client's chart.
d. Change the dialysate solution and catheter tubing.
B
Cloudy or opaque effluent is the earliest sign of peritonitis. The health care provider should be notified, and a sample of the outflow should be sent for culture and sensitivity. Irrigating the ca-theter or changing the solution and tubing will not help reveal the cause of the problem so that appropriate treatment can be started. Documentation is important but is not the priority.
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