Question

Difficulty: Very hardStandard and Transmission-Based Precautions

A charge nurse is formulating an infection control plan for a severely immunocompromised client newly diagnosed with disseminated herpes zoster and a concurrent Clostridioides difficile infection. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the client's plan of care? (Select all that apply.)

  1. Assign the client to a private, airborne infection isolation room (AIIR) with negative-pressure airflow.Answer
  2. B
    Instruct staff to perform hand hygiene exclusively with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer after removing gloves.
  3. Use a sporicidal disinfectant, such as a sodium hypochlorite solution, to clean the client's dedicated equipment.Answer
  4. D
    Remove all personal protective equipment (PPE), including the N95 respirator, inside the client's room prior to exiting.
  5. Place a standard surgical mask on the client if transport to another department is medically necessary.Answer
  6. F
    Assign an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) with no documented varicella immunity to assist the client with bathing.

Answer

The correct interventions are assigning a negative-pressure AIIR, using sporicidal disinfectants for equipment, and placing a surgical mask on the client during transport.
Because the client has disseminated herpes zoster, Airborne Precautions are required, meaning the client needs a negative-pressure AIIR. During any necessary transport, airborne infectious clients must wear a standard surgical mask to contain respiratory secretions. The concurrent Clostridioides difficile infection requires Enteric Contact Precautions, necessitating the use of sporicidal disinfectants like bleach for equipment and surfaces.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the pathogens and their required precaution layers.
Disseminated herpes zoster requires Airborne and Contact Precautions. Clostridioides difficile requires Enteric Contact Precautions.
Identifying the transmission routes is the foundation for selecting correct PPE and environmental controls.
2
Evaluate room assignment options.
The requirement for Airborne Precautions mandates a private, negative-pressure airborne infection isolation room (AIIR).
Negative pressure prevents airborne droplet nuclei from drifting into the hallway.
3
Determine hand hygiene protocols.
Staff must use soap and water for hand hygiene instead of alcohol-based rubs.
Alcohol does not eradicate C. difficile spores; physical friction with soap and water is required.
4
Assess environmental cleaning standards.
Equipment must be cleaned with a sporicidal agent, such as a sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution.
Standard quaternary ammonium disinfectants do not kill C. difficile spores.
5
Determine safe PPE doffing sequences.
Gowns and gloves are removed inside the room, but the N95 respirator is removed outside the room.
Removing the N95 inside the room would expose the healthcare worker to suspended airborne pathogens.
6
Evaluate transport and delegation safety.
The client must wear a standard surgical mask during transport. Susceptible staff cannot be assigned to this client.
Surgical masks contain the client's source droplets. Non-immune staff are at high risk for contracting varicella.

Key Concept

Concurrent implementation of Airborne, standard Contact, and Enteric Contact precautions requires synthesizing highly specific PPE, hygiene, and room assignment guidelines.
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