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Difficulty: MediumStandard and Transmission-Based Precautions

A client who recently completed a four-week course of broad-spectrum antibiotics reports having six to eight watery bowel movements daily, accompanied by abdominal cramping. The healthcare provider suspects a Clostridioides difficile infection. Which action by the healthcare team demonstrates adherence to appropriate transmission-based precautions?

  1. A
    Utilizing an alcohol-based hand rub immediately upon exiting the client's environment.
  2. B
    Keeping the client's door closed to maintain continuous negative-pressure airflow in the room.
  3. Cleansing hands vigorously with soap and water after removing gloves and before leaving the room.Answer
  4. D
    Assigning the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to assess the client's family members for signs of infection prior to room entry.

Answer

Cleansing hands vigorously with soap and water after removing gloves and before leaving the room.
The correct action demonstrates understanding that Clostridioides difficile is a spore-forming organism requiring Contact Precautions with specialized hand hygiene. Because C. diff spores are resistant to alcohol, the only effective way to remove them from healthcare workers' hands is through the physical friction generated by washing with soap and water.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the suspected pathogen based on the clinical presentation and history.
The client has a suspected Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection due to prolonged antibiotic use and severe, frequent watery diarrhea.
Recognizing the specific pathogen dictates the category of transmission-based precautions required.
2
Determine the required isolation precautions for the identified pathogen.
C. diff requires Contact Precautions (specifically enteric precautions) due to its transmission via fecal-oral routes and contaminated surfaces.
Contact precautions mandate the use of gowns and gloves for all interactions involving contact with the client or their environment.
3
Identify the unique infection control requirement specific to this spore-forming bacterium.
Unlike most other pathogens managed with Contact Precautions, C. diff forms spores that are highly resistant to the bactericidal effects of alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
To effectively eliminate C. diff spores from the hands, healthcare workers must rely on the mechanical friction of washing with soap and water.

Key Concept

Standard and Transmission-Based Precautions
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Topics

Standard and Transmission-Based Precautions

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