A nurse is admitting a client who has active tuberculosis to a room on a medical-surgical unit. Which of the following room assignments should the nurse make for the client?
A.
A room that is within view of the nurses’ station
B.
A room in the ICU
C.
A room with another nonsurgical client
D.
A room with air exhaust directly to the outdoor environment
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The correct room assignment for a client with active tuberculosis (TB) is:
D. A room with air exhaust directly to the outdoor environment
Explanation:
Active tuberculosis is a contagious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which primarily affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body. It spreads through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Proper isolation and ventilation are crucial to prevent the spread of TB in a healthcare setting.
Room Assignment Rationale:
- Air Exhaust to the Outdoor Environment:
- TB bacteria are airborne and can remain suspended in the air for extended periods. To minimize the risk of transmission, it is essential that the room where the TB patient is isolated has proper ventilation. Rooms with air exhaust directly to the outdoor environment help ensure that contaminated air does not recirculate within the hospital but is instead expelled outside. This reduces the risk of airborne TB bacteria spreading to other areas or patients in the facility.
- Other Options:
- A. A room that is within view of the nurses’ station: While visibility from the nurses’ station might be important for monitoring, it does not address the need for proper air handling and isolation of TB bacteria. Standard rooms without specific ventilation requirements might not provide adequate protection against airborne transmission.
- B. A room in the ICU: ICU rooms are typically designed for critically ill patients with intensive needs, not necessarily for patients with infectious diseases. While ICU rooms may have advanced ventilation, they are not specifically designed for isolation of airborne pathogens like TB.
- C. A room with another nonsurgical client: Placing a patient with active TB in a room with another patient is unsafe. TB is highly contagious, and sharing a room with a nonsurgical client could expose them to the risk of TB transmission.
In summary, the best practice for isolating a client with active TB is to place them in a room with proper ventilation that exhausts air directly to the outside, thereby minimizing the risk of airborne transmission to other patients and staff.