Andrew Hutchinson, 27, had surgery to repair his right hand after it was crushed by his garage door. The routine complete blood count (CBC) performed on admission revealed both a dangerously low total...

Andrew Hutchinson, 27, had surgery to repair his right hand after it was crushed by his garage door. The routine complete blood count (CBC) performed on admission revealed both a dangerously low total leukocyte count and a low proportion of lymphocytes.

One day postsurgery, he complains of pain in his injured right ring finger. When examined, the affected finger and the dorsum of the right hand are red, warm, and edematous, and red streaks radiate proximally on his right forearm. High doses of antibiotics are prescribed, and a sling is applied to the affected arm. Nurses are instructed to wear gloves and gown for Andrew’s protection (called reverse isolation) when tending to him.

1. How might the low lymphocyte count, orders for antibiotic therapy, and reverse isolation be related? Why is it important that Andrew not move the affected arm excessively (i.e., why was the sling ordered)?