A patient has undergone surgery following a motor vehicle ac…

A patient has undergone surgery following a motor vehicle accident to repair multiple orthopedic fractures. Post-operatively the patient develops a fever. The nurse notes the following: blood pressure 90/60, pulse 110, and respiratory rate 38, rapid and deep. The arterial blood gases reveal: pH 7.32, pCO2 28, HCO3 20. The blood gases reveal which of the following?