Question

As you are shaving Mr. King, you accidentally nick his neck. You should:

A. Take Mr. King to the emergency room.
B. Apply pressure to the cut and report it to the nurse.
C. Only use electric razors from now on.
D. Squeeze the skin and apply an antibiotic cream.

Answer 1

For minor cuts like a shaving nick, apply pressure and then clean the area, reporting to a health professional if needed. Sam's post-shaving infection suggests a bacterial cause, likely Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes. Mark's severe infection requiring urgent treatment indicates necrotizing fasciitis, treated with antibiotics and possibly surgery.

Step-by-step explanation:

When treating a minor cut such as a nick from shaving, the appropriate response would typically be to apply pressure to the cut to stop any bleeding and then to clean and report it to a health professional if necessary. In the case of Sam, a college freshman who nicked himself shaving, the infection that ensued is likely caused by a bacterial infection. Common bacteria responsible for such wound infections include Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes. These bacteria can cause infections that might lead to symptoms like redness, warmth, and pus, as described in Sam's condition. In more severe cases, as seen with Mark's rapidly progressing symptoms and diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis, urgent medical attention is required with treatments including broad-spectrum antibiotics and potentially surgical intervention.