The nurse is caring for a patient whose cultures were positive for Clostridium difficile.Which of the following nursing actions would be appropriate in view of the presence of this organism?

A) Instructing assistive personnel to use soap and water rather than sanitizer to clean hands.
B) Placing the patient on droplet precautions.
C) Wearing an N95 respirator when entering the patient room.
D) Teaching the patient cough etiquette.

Question

Gionni Allen · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : A, Explanation :  C.difficile is a spore-forming organism that can be transmitted through direct and indirect patient contact.Because C.difficile is a spore-forming organism,hand sanitizer is not effective in preventing its transmission.Hands must be washed with soap and water to prevent transmission.This organism is not transmitted via the droplet route;therefore,droplet precautions are not needed.An N95 respirator is used primarily for providing care to patients with airborne illness.All patients should be taught cough etiquette;this action is not one to specific to a patient who has C.difficile infection.

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