A child has been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and is being treated with chemotherapy. Because many chemotherapeutic agents cause bone marrow suppression, the nurse, before administering the chemotherapy, will determine if this child has any infection-fighting capability by monitoring the:
Explanation & Rationale
A. The absolute neutrophil count (ANC) is the best indicator of a child's ability to fight infection. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell crucial for fighting bacterial infections, and chemotherapy can suppress bone marrow production of neutrophils. The ANC helps assess the risk for infection and the need for additional precautions, such as infection control. B. Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that primarily respond to allergies and parasitic infections, and their count is not used to assess infection risk in chemotherapy patients. C. The red blood cell count (RBC) is important for assessing oxygen-carrying capacity but does not directly relate to infection-fighting ability. D. Hemoglobin (Hgb) reflects the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, not the body's ability to fight infection.