Nursing Diagnosis for Appendicitis: RISK FOR INFECTION

Nursing Interventions:

Practice and instruct in good hand washing and aseptic wound care. Encourage and
provide perineal care.
Rationale: Reduce risk of spread of bacteria.

Inspect incision and dressings. Note characteristics of drainage from wound (if
inserted), presence of erythema.
Rationale: Provides for early detection of developing infectious process and monitors
resolution of preexisting peritonitis.

Monitor vital signs. Note onset of fever, chills, diaphoresis, changes in mentation, and
reports of increasing abdominal pain.
Rationale: Suggestive of presence of infection or developing sepsis, abscess, and peritonitis.

Obtain drainage specimens if indicated.

Rationale: Grams stain, culture and sensitivity testing is used in identifying causative
organism and choice of therapy.

Administer antibiotics as appropriate.

Rationale: Antibiotics given before appendectomy are primarily for prophylaxis of wound
infection and are not continued postoperatively. Therapeutic antibiotics are administered if
the appendix is ruptured or abscessed or peritonitis has developed.