Final answer:
To prevent the transmission of TB, the nurse should place the client in a negative pressure room. This specialized room helps to contain the airborne pathogens and prevent them from spreading to other areas. Hand hygiene and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) are also important, but the negative pressure room is crucial for containment.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse caring for a client with active tuberculosis (TB) should place the client in a negative pressure room to prevent the transmission of the disease. Unlike administering an antitussive medication or limiting the client's fluid intake, using a negative pressure room helps to control the spread of the TB bacteria by preventing contaminated air from moving to other areas.
What makes negative pressure rooms critical in the management of TB is that these rooms are designed to ensure air flows into the room but not out of it, thus containing any airborne pathogens. The negative pressure room is considered part of an airborne infection isolation room (AIIR), which is a standard recommendation for clients with TB. Moreover, wearing a gown, gloves, and a mask while providing care is necessary, but they alone are not sufficient for containing airborne pathogens like the TB bacterium.
Proper multidrug protocols with antibiotics such as isoniazid and rifampin are critical in treating TB effectively and preventing drug-resistant strains from developing hand hygiene and sanitation are also effective complementary measures to stop transmission in healthcare settings.