Level: Clinical
Difficulty: Medium
Subtopic: Transmission-based precautions
NCLEX: A client has Clostridioides difficile infection with watery diarrhea. Which precaution is required?
Microbiology Safety and Infection Prevention and Control
Case Study
A client has Clostridioides difficile infection with watery diarrhea. Which precaution is required?
Question
A. Contact precautions with soap-and-water hand hygiene before leaving the room.
B. Droplet precautions with a surgical mask only.
C. Airborne precautions with an N95 respirator.
D. No precautions beyond standard precautions because diarrhea is expected.
B. Droplet precautions with a surgical mask only.
C. Airborne precautions with an N95 respirator.
D. No precautions beyond standard precautions because diarrhea is expected.
Rationale
Correct answer: A. Contact precautions with soap-and-water hand hygiene before leaving the room.
Rationale: C. difficile is transmitted by contact; soap-and-water hand hygiene removes spores alcohol gel may not eliminate.
Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.
Rationale: C. difficile is transmitted by contact; soap-and-water hand hygiene removes spores alcohol gel may not eliminate.
Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.