Question

The nurse is providing care to a client with infective endocarditis. What infection control precautions does the nurse use?

a. Standard Precautions
b. Bleeding Precautions
c. Reverse isolation
d. Contact isolation

Answer 1

Nurses should follow standard precautions when caring for clients with infective endocarditis to prevent the spread of infection, including excellent hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment, and maintaining a sterile environment during procedures.

Step-by-step explanation:

When providing care to a client with infective endocarditis, a nurse should use standard precautions. This includes strict adherence to hand hygiene practices and careful disinfection of all items coming into contact with the patient to prevent the spread of infection. It is critical to use proper aseptic techniques when carrying out medical procedures that pose a risk for contamination, hence maintaining a sterile environment and preventing sepsis. Additionally, healthcare workers should protect themselves by using gloves, face protection, and disposable syringes and needles to avoid contact with potentially infectious body fluids.

Infective endocarditis can be transmitted through procedures that breach the body's natural barriers, as with the case of a patient who developed the infection after their gum was cut during oral surgery. Therefore, adherence to infection control precautions is essential in healthcare settings to reduce the risk of nosocomial infections.