Which situation would indicate immediate intervention for an infant based on their Apgar score?

Immediate intervention for an infant based on their Apgar score is warranted when the score falls between 0 and 3 at one minute after birth. The Apgar score evaluates the newborn's condition and assesses five criteria: appearance (skin color), pulse (heart rate), grimace response (reflexes), activity (muscle tone), and respiratory effort. A score in this low range indicates that the infant is severely compromised and requires resuscitative measures.

Such a low score often signals potential life-threatening issues such as severe hypoxia or respiratory distress, which could lead to critical complications if not addressed promptly. The priority in such situations is to stabilize the infant through methods such as providing oxygen, assisting with breathing, or performing chest compressions as needed, all of which are crucial to ensure the infant has the best chance of recovery and health.

The other situations represented do not indicate the same level of urgency for immediate intervention. A good cry and active motion signify that the infant is stable, while scores of 7 at one minute and 5 at five minutes suggest that the infant is in a reasonably good condition or only moderately affected, respectively. These indicate that while monitoring is necessary, they do not demand immediate resuscitative actions.