A preterm infant has a yellow skin color and a rising bilirubin level. The nurse knows that this infant is at risk for what?

A. Heart failure: While severe illness can affect cardiac function, jaundice and elevated bilirubin in a preterm infant are not direct causes of heart failure. Cardiac complications are not the primary concern in this context. B. Skin breakdown: Jaundice affects skin color but does not directly cause skin breakdown. Skin integrity issues are more related to immaturity, moisture, or friction rather than hyperbilirubinemia. C. Renal failure: Elevated bilirubin does not typically cause renal failure. The kidneys are not the primary organs affected by hyperbilirubinemia in preterm infants. D. Brain damage: Preterm infants with rising bilirubin levels are at risk for kernicterus, a type of bilirubin-induced neurologic dysfunction. Excess bilirubin can cross the immature blood-brain barrier, potentially leading to permanent brain damage if not treated promptly.