As a triage nurse in the ER, you begin the assessment of an…
As a triage nurse in the ER, you begin the assessment of an elderly patient complaining of bloody diarrhea and severe stomach cramps. You find the patient has a fever of 104°F as well, and is showing signs of dehydration. IV fluids are administered while further analysis of the patient continues. Specimen collection from the patient is ordered for microbial analysis in the hospital laboratory. Microscopic analysis revealed the presence of gram-negative bacilli in the sample that was collected. Based upon this information, you picture in your mind which of the following images?