Free BCEN Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Practice Question

Administering intravenous antibiotics is the priority intervention for a patient with advancing cellulitis from a wound infection. Cellulitis is a spreading bacterial infection of the skin and underlying tissues that can progress rapidly and lead to serious complications if not treated promptly. IV antibiotics provide rapid systemic distribution of the medication, which is crucial for controlling the spreading infection.

While the other options are important aspects of wound care:

• Elevating the affected limb helps reduce swelling but doesn't directly combat the infection.
• Applying warm compresses may increase blood flow to the area but doesn't address the underlying bacterial cause.
• Debriding the wound might be necessary in some cases, but it's not the first priority for advancing cellulitis and could potentially spread the infection further if done before antibiotic treatment.

The key in managing advancing cellulitis is to quickly initiate systemic antibiotic therapy to prevent further spread of the infection and potential complications such as sepsis or necrotizing fasciitis.