A nurse is performing an admission assessment on a client with AIDS. To best evaluate the client for the risk of contracting an opportunistic infection, the nurse asks:

Question

1. "What were the results of your last CD4 and T-cells test?"
2. "Can you identify the signs and symptoms of a possible infection?"
3. "Are you sexual active with persons who also have AIDS?"
4. "Have you had any fever, diarrhea, or chills over the last 48 hours?"

Answer 1

"What were the results of your last CD4 and T-cells test?"

Rationale: Opportunistic infections occur in HIV-infected individuals as the virus destroys sufficient numbers of CD4+ T cells and the body is not able to protect itself. As CD4+ counts drop to <200 cells/μL, the incidence of opportunistic infection accelerates rapidly. Being aware of the client's most recent CD4 and T-cells test would provide information regarding the risk of contracting such a disease. Identifying symptoms of an opportunistic infection such as fever, diarrhea, or chills is important to the treatment, not to evaluating the risk of contracting such a disease. The AIDS status of the client's sexual partners has no bearing on the risk of contracting an opportunistic infection and is not an appropriate question for the nurse to ask.