Final answer:
The nurse should bathe the client with a positive MRSA culture using chlorhexidine solution. Chlorhexidine washes help control MRSA spread and reduce transmission risks. Correct measures and decolonization are crucial due to MRSA's antibiotic resistance and high colonization rates.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse caring for a client who has a positive culture for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) should bathe the client using chlorhexidine solution. Chlorhexidine washes are a method of decolonization aiming to control the spread of MRSA. It's important for medical professionals to implement such measures considering that approximately one-third of the population carries S. aureus in their nasal microbiota, and about 6% of these are methicillin-resistant. The intervention with chlorhexidine not only helps in reducing the patient's MRSA load but also decreases the risk of transmission to healthcare workers and other patients.
Hospitals have also tried other methods such as screening patients for MRSA and using intranasal mupirocin to reduce the colonization. However, these measures have met with mixed success, and the effectiveness of protocols can vary due to lack of standardization and other factors like general hand-washing protocols. Additionally, MRSA is of particular concern in healthcare settings due to its ability to resist commonly used antibiotics, making infection control and proper antibiotic administration essential.