Question

A nurse is providing teaching to an adolescent client who has methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Which of the following instructions should the nurse provide to prevent the spread of this infection?

A: "Expose the infected areas of skin to open air and sunlight as much as possible."
B: "Bathe in a tub of warm water using mild soap twice daily."
C: "Place soiled dressing bandages in a red biohazard bag for disposal."
D: "Do not return to football practice until the infection has healed."

Answer 1

To prevent the spread of MRSA, the nurse should instruct the patient to place soiled dressings in a red biohazard bag for disposal and follow other precautions such as hand hygiene and avoiding the sharing of personal items.

Step-by-step explanation:

To prevent the spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a patient should follow strict hygiene and precautionary measures to limit the spread to others. The correct instruction the nurse should provide to the patient, in this case, is:

• "Place soiled dressing bandages in a red biohazard bag for disposal." This will help in preventing the spread of the infection to others through contaminated dressings.

The patient should also practice excellent hand hygiene, limit contact with the infected area, and avoid sharing personal items. While exposing the infected area to sunlight and air might seem beneficial, it is not as crucial as proper disposal of contaminated materials and other preventive actions, such as avoiding communal activities until the infection has healed. Bathe as needed with mild soap, but tub baths might increase the risk of spreading the infection within the water, and public exposure might risk spreading it to others.