The nurse is providing discharge instructions to a client with Clostridium difficile. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
The nurse is providing discharge instructions to a client with Clostridium difficile. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. Your family will need prophylactic antibiotics for two weeks.
[11%]
B. Disinfect your countertops and other surfaces with isopropyl alcohol.
[34%]
C. Wear a disposable surgical mask when you are out in public.
[6%]
D. If possible, use chlorine bleach when laundering underwear.
[48%]
Statistics
Subject/Lesson
Subject
Adult Health
Lesson
Infectious Disease
Client Need
Test Plan
Safety & Infection Control
Related Topic
Home Safety
Item Type
Item Type
Application
Explanation
Choice D is correct. Bleach is the most effective agent against Clostridium difficle. C. diff is a spore-producing bacterium that can be transmitted between clients, environmental surfaces, and contaminated hands. The nurse should instruct the client to launder their clothes (especially underwear) with bleach and use hot water and a hot dryer temperature.
Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. Prophylactic antibiotics for family members are not indicated (choice A). Unnecessary and prolonged antibiotic use contributes to C. diff infections; therefore, such antibiotic usage must be curtailed. Isopropyl alcohol is not an effective cleaning agent for C.difficle because alcohol can not kill the spores (choice B). In disinfecting the C.difficle contaminated surfaces, bleach solution diluted with nine parts of water is the preferred agent. The client transmits this pathogen by contact means, not droplets; thus, a mask is unnecessary (choice C).
Learning Objective
Recognize the notable differences (hand hygiene with soap & water, surface disinfection with bleach) in handling isolation precautions of spore-forming C.difficle.
Additional Info
According to the Centers for Disease Control, a client, while at home, should prevent C.difficle disease transmission through:
- Meticulous hand hygiene with soap and water.
- Avoid using alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
- Use a separate bathroom from others.
- Disinfect surfaces with a bleach solution, not isopropyl alcohol.
- Launder clothing, especially undergarments, with bleach and hot water.
