Which client group is particularly at risk for oxygen toxicity when supplied with high concentrations of supplemental oxygen?

Infants, especially premature infants, are particularly at risk for oxygen toxicity when supplied with high concentrations of supplemental oxygen. This vulnerability is primarily due to the developmental immaturity of their lungs and the delicate nature of their alveoli. High levels of oxygen can lead to oxidative stress and damage to lung tissue, a condition known as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), which affects the blood vessels in the retina. Infants often require supplemental oxygen to maintain adequate oxygen saturation levels, but care must be taken to avoid excessively high concentrations that can lead to these complications.

In contrast, while geriatric patients, asthma patients, and those with COPD may experience complications related to oxygen therapy, their risk of oxygen toxicity is generally not as critical as that seen in infants. For example, patients with COPD often have adapted to lower levels of oxygen and may rely on a careful titration of oxygen to avoid disrupting their respiratory drive.