Question

A nurse is caring for a client who has a positive culture for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A.Obtain a sputum specimen to determine if there is colonization.
B.Bathe the client using chlorhexidine solution.
C.Place the client in droplet isolation.
D.Restrict visits from the client's friends and family.

Answer 1

The nurse should bathe the client using a chlorhexidine solution to control the spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Droplet isolation is unnecessary unless there are respiratory symptoms, and visit restrictions are not standard MRSA precautions.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a client tests positive for a culture of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the nurse should take appropriate actions to prevent the spread of this infection. MRSA is a type of bacteria that is resistant to several common antibiotics, making it a significant concern in healthcare settings.

Of the options provided, the most appropriate action the nurse should take is to bathe the client using a chlorhexidine solution. This decolonization method has been shown to reduce MRSA among patients when used as part of a broader infection control strategy.

Isolation measures like placing the client in droplet isolation are not typically required for MRSA unless it is accompanied by respiratory symptoms or other conditions that spread through droplets. There is no indication that obtaining a sputum specimen would be necessary unless there is a suspected pulmonary infection, and restricting visits from the client's friends and family without evidence of infection risk can be detrimental to patient well-being and is not usually part of standard MRSA precautions.