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Difficulty: EasyAccident, Error, and Injury Prevention

A nurse is caring for a client who is on transmission-based precautions due to an active Clostridioides difficile infection. After completing patient care and removing personal protective equipment, which hand hygiene method is required to safely prevent the spread of the spores?

  1. Washing hands meticulously with soap and water.Answer
  2. B
    Rubbing hands vigorously with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  3. C
    Wiping hands thoroughly with a chlorhexidine-impregnated cloth.
  4. D
    Applying an antimicrobial foam sanitizer to both hands.

Answer

Washing hands meticulously with soap and water is the required hand hygiene method to prevent the spread of Clostridioides difficile spores.
The correct hand hygiene method for a client with Clostridioides difficile is using soap and water. The physical friction of handwashing, combined with the rinsing action of the water, physically removes the resilient spores from the skin and washes them down the sink.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the specific pathogen and its characteristics.
The pathogen is Clostridioides difficile, which produces highly resistant spores.
Understanding the pathogen's structure determines the appropriate infection control measures.
2
Determine the effectiveness of standard hand sanitizing methods against spores.
Alcohol-based sanitizers and standard antibacterial wipes cannot kill these spores.
Spores have a tough outer coating that resists typical chemical disinfectants used in hand hygiene.
3
Select the hand hygiene method that physically removes the spores.
Soap and water, combined with mechanical friction, physically flush the spores off the hands.
Physical removal is the only reliable way to decontaminate hands after caring for a client with this infection.

Key Concept

Clostridioides difficile Infection Control and Hand Hygiene
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Topics

Accident, Error, and Injury Prevention

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