A charge nurse on a medical-surgical unit is reviewing infection control requirements for newly admitted clients. Match each client's clinical presentation with the correct category of infection control precautions.
- A client admitted with active pulmonary tuberculosisAirborne Precautions
- A client admitted with a new diagnosis of pertussis (whooping cough)Droplet Precautions
- A client admitted with a draining abdominal wound positive for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE)Contact Precautions
- A client admitted for fluid volume overload related to heart failure, with no infectious symptomsStandard Precautions
Answer
Tuberculosis requires Airborne Precautions, Pertussis requires Droplet Precautions, VRE requires Contact Precautions, and Heart failure requires only Standard Precautions.
Appropriate infection control requires matching the pathogen's mode of transmission to the corresponding precaution category. Tuberculosis is an airborne disease (Airborne Precautions). Pertussis spreads via large droplets (Droplet Precautions). VRE spreads through direct contact with surfaces or clients (Contact Precautions). A non-infectious condition like heart failure requires only routine safety measures (Standard Precautions).
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Identifying the primary mode of transmission for common clinical conditions to select the correct isolation precautions.