Question

The nurse changed a dressing on a client's wound with vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). Which step would the nurse take to ensure proper disposal of the soiled dressing?

1) Place the soiled dressing in a regular trash bin
2) Dispose of the soiled dressing in a biohazard waste container
3) Leave the soiled dressing on the client's bed for housekeeping to handle
4) Flush the soiled dressing down the toilet

Answer 1

To ensure proper disposal of a soiled dressing contaminated with VRE, the nurse should dispose of it in a biohazard waste container as it requires incineration or autoclaving to eliminate biological hazards.

Step-by-step explanation:

The proper disposal of soiled dressings from a wound infected with vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) is critical to prevent further contamination and spread of the bacteria. In this scenario, the correct step for the nurse to take would be option 2) Dispose of the soiled dressing in a biohazard waste container. Biosafety practices and procedures in medical and lab environments state that potentially infected materials such as dressings must be treated with extreme caution. These materials should neither be left for housekeeping, flushed down the toilet, nor placed in regular trash bins due to the risk of spreading the infection. The soiled materials must be dealt with in a way that they can be incinerated or autoclaved to eliminate biological hazards.

Wearing appropriate protective gear, handling soiled materials with care, and ensuring proper disposal in designated biohazard containers are all part of critical infection control measures in healthcare settings. This approach safeguards health workers, other patients, and the environment from potential exposure to dangerous pathogens such as VRE.