Question

A nurse is preparing to administer medication to client who has active TB. Which of the following precautionary measures should the nurse take?

A) Wear a mask and goggles
B) Administer the medication via IV route
C) Use a negative pressure room for medication administration
D) Implement airborne precautions

Answer 1

The nurse should implement airborne precautions, which includes wearing an N95 mask and ideally administering medication in a negative pressure room. Wearing goggles may be required for body fluid protection, and administering medication via IV route is unrelated to TB transmission risk.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a nurse is preparing to administer medication to a client who has active tuberculosis (TB), it is crucial to take appropriate infection control precautions to prevent the spread of the disease. The TB bacteria are highly contagious and can be spread through the air by droplet nuclei from coughs or sneezes. Given that TB is an airborne pathogen, the nurse should implement airborne precautions. This includes wearing a specialized respirator such as an N95 mask, and ideally, administering medication to the patient in a negative pressure room to contain and remove infectious air particles. Standard precautionary measures like wearing goggles could be necessary if there is a risk of splashes or sprays of body fluids. However, administering the medication via IV route is not specifically aimed at reducing TB transmission risk. Extended treatment with antibiotics such as isoniazid and rifampin is common for TB, and directly observed therapy (DOT) may be utilized to ensure adherence to the medication regimen.