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Question

Difficulty: HardHandling Hazardous and Infectious Materials

While preparing a specimen for transport, an outpatient clinic nurse accidentally drops a glass sputum collection container from a client with suspected active pulmonary tuberculosis. The jar shatters, spilling the specimen across the exam room floor. Which action should the nurse take first?

  1. Instruct all individuals to immediately vacate the exam room and pull the door closed behind them.Answer
  2. B
    Gently place absorbent disposable towels over the spilled fluid and glass shards to contain the spread.
  3. C
    Pour an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved tuberculocidal disinfectant directly onto the liquid spill.
  4. D
    Direct an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to immediately bring a biohazard spill kit to the room.

Answer

Instruct all individuals to immediately vacate the exam room and pull the door closed behind them.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is transmitted via airborne aerosolized droplets. When a container of infectious sputum shatters, it forcefully generates a high concentration of infectious aerosols. The absolute first priority is to evacuate the immediate area, close the door to prevent aerosols from spreading to adjacent areas, and wait a designated period for aerosols to settle or be cleared by ventilation systems before re-entering with appropriate airborne personal protective equipment (e.g., N95 respirator or PAPR) to clean the spill.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the pathogen and its transmission route.
The client has suspected active pulmonary tuberculosis, which is transmitted via the airborne route.
Pathogen characteristics dictate the appropriate isolation and spill management protocols.
2
Analyze the physical event and immediate risks.
A glass container shattering on a hard surface generates infectious aerosols, creating an immediate inhalation risk in the room.
Recognizing aerosol generation is critical for prioritizing respiratory safety over environmental cleanup.
3
Determine the highest priority action based on safety principles.
The immediate priority is to clear the room, close the door to contain the aerosols, and allow time for the air to clear before re-entering with an N95 respirator to manage the spill.
Protecting human life and preventing exposure always supersedes immediate physical containment of the biological material.

Key Concept

Management of Airborne Biological Spills
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Topics

Handling Hazardous and Infectious Materials

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