A patient has been admitted to the medical unit with signs and symptoms suggestive of endocarditis. The physician's choice of antibiotics would be primarily based on what diagnostic test?

A) Echocardiography
B) Blood cultures
C) Cardiac aspiration
D) Complete blood count


Ans: B
Feedback:
To help determine the causative organisms and the most effective antibiotic treatment for the patient, blood cultures are taken. A CBC can help establish the degree and stage of infection, but not the causative microorganism. Echocardiography cannot indicate the microorganisms causing the infection. "Cardiac aspiration" is not a diagnostic test.

Nursing

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