A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who was newly admitted and has tuberculosis. Which of the following actions should the nurse recommend Including in the plan of care?
A.
Initiate contact precautions.
B.
Increase the client’s daily intake of vitamin D.
C.
Perform tuberculin skin testing.
D.
Place the client in a positive-pressure isolation room.
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is A. Initiate contact precautions.
Explanation:
For a client newly admitted with tuberculosis (TB), the primary concern is preventing the spread of the infection. Tuberculosis is a contagious bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which primarily affects the lungs and is transmitted via airborne droplets. Therefore, the recommended precautionary measure is to initiate airborne precautions rather than contact precautions.
Airborne precautions include:
- Isolation in a Negative-Pressure Room: The client should be placed in a negative-pressure isolation room to prevent airborne particles from escaping into the general environment. This helps to contain the bacteria within the room and minimizes the risk of transmission to others.
- Use of N95 Respirators: Healthcare providers should wear N95 respirators or higher-level protection when entering the room of a patient with TB. These respirators are designed to filter out airborne particles that might carry the TB bacteria.
- Proper Ventilation: Ensuring adequate ventilation in the isolation room helps to dilute and remove airborne contaminants.
Reasons the other options are less appropriate:
- B. Increase the client’s daily intake of vitamin D: While nutrition is important for overall health and immune function, increasing vitamin D intake is not a specific intervention for managing tuberculosis. The primary focus should be on infection control and treatment.
- C. Perform tuberculin skin testing: This is a diagnostic test used to detect TB infection, not a preventive measure for a patient already diagnosed with TB. The patient should already be diagnosed and under treatment if they have been admitted with TB.
- D. Place the client in a positive-pressure isolation room: Positive-pressure rooms are used for patients who are immunocompromised to protect them from infections, not for those with TB. For TB patients, negative-pressure rooms are necessary to prevent the spread of airborne pathogens.
In summary, initiating airborne precautions is crucial for managing and containing tuberculosis within a healthcare setting, ensuring the safety of both the patient and healthcare workers.