While performing a head-to-toe assessment, the client reports leg pain. The nurse suspects a lower extremity infection. What sign(s) and symptom(s) would indicate an infection? Select all that apply.

Lower extremity infection involves microbial invasion of skin or soft tissue triggering inflammatory response, vasodilation, capillary permeability, and leukocytosis, producing localized erythema, warmth, edema, purulent exudate, systemic fever, and elevated white blood cell count due to immune activation process. Rationale: A. Absent pulses indicate arterial occlusion or severe peripheral arterial disease reducing distal perfusion. It reflects ischemia rather than infection. Infection typically increases perfusion causing warmth and redness. Pulse absence suggests vascular compromise and tissue hypoxia rather than microbial inflammatory processes clinically present. B. Red and swollen tissue indicates localized inflammation due to infection with histamine mediated vasodilation and increased capillary permeability. This produces erythema, edema, and warmth at affected site. These are classic signs of soft tissue infection and immune response activation present clinically. C. Intermittent claudication represents peripheral arterial disease causing ischemic muscle pain during exertion relieved by rest. It results from reduced arterial blood flow, not infection. There is no inflammatory exudate or systemic immune response. It is a chronic vascular insufficiency symptom pattern clinically. D. Fever and increased white blood cells indicate systemic infection due to pyrogen release and bone marrow leukocyte stimulation. This reflects immune response to pathogens. Leukocytosis and fever are hallmark systemic manifestations of infection distinguishing it from vascular or mechanical causes clinically present. E. Weeping drainage represents purulent exudate from infected tissue due to neutrophil accumulation and bacterial invasion. It indicates active infection with tissue breakdown and fluid leakage. This finding is strongly associated with soft tissue infection and wound contamination process ongoing clinically present.