A nurse is caring for a client who has tuberculosis. Which of the following precautions should the nurse plan to implement when working with the client?
A.
Protective
B.
Droplet
C.
Airborne
D.
Contact
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is C. Airborne.
When caring for a client with tuberculosis (TB), a nurse should implement airborne precautions. This is essential due to the nature of TB transmission and the requirements for preventing its spread.
Explanation:
Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It primarily affects the lungs but can involve other parts of the body. TB is transmitted from person to person through airborne droplets. When a person with active pulmonary TB coughs, sneezes, or talks, they release tiny droplets containing TB bacteria into the air. These droplets can be inhaled by others, leading to new infections.
Airborne precautions are crucial for preventing the spread of TB. Here’s how these precautions are implemented:
- N95 Respirator Mask: Nurses and other healthcare workers must wear an N95 respirator mask, which is specially designed to filter out airborne particles, including those containing TB bacteria. This mask is more effective than a standard surgical mask at protecting against airborne pathogens.
- Negative Pressure Room: The client should be placed in a negative pressure room, which ensures that air flows into the room but does not escape to other areas of the healthcare facility. This setup helps prevent the spread of airborne particles to other patients and staff.
- Good Ventilation: The room should have proper ventilation to reduce the concentration of airborne TB bacteria. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters may also be used to enhance air quality.
- Hand Hygiene: While not a primary precaution for airborne transmission, regular hand hygiene is important to prevent the spread of any potential secondary infections.
Droplet precautions are used for infections spread by larger respiratory droplets, such as influenza, and contact precautions are used for infections spread through direct or indirect contact with contaminated surfaces or body fluids. Protective precautions (or reverse isolation) are used to protect immunocompromised patients from infections.
By adhering to airborne precautions, healthcare providers can effectively reduce the risk of TB transmission and protect both themselves and other patients.