Final answer:
The nurse should implement droplet precautions when caring for a client diagnosed with mycoplasma pneumonia, since the infection spreads through coughing or sneezing. Standard precautions should also be adhered to for all patient care. Airborne and contact precautions are not primarily recommended for walking pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. B) Droplet precautions
Step-by-step explanation:
When a nurse is providing care for a client who has been diagnosed with mycoplasma pneumonia, the nurse should implement droplet precautions. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is the causative agent for what is commonly referred to as 'walking pneumonia'. It is spread by aerosols formed when coughing or sneezing, which consist of larger particles that typically travel less than one meter (about 3 feet) and do not remain suspended in the air for a long duration. Therefore, to decrease the risk of transmission, the nurse must use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) like surgical masks when within 3 feet of the patient and ensure proper hand hygiene before and after patient contact to avoid transferring infectious material to surfaces or equipment.
Mycoplasma pneumonia is often mild, but it can cause a persistent cough, and the handling of this bacterium requires particular attention to hygiene and contact with respiratory droplets. Due to this mode of transfer, standard precautions also need to be followed. These precautions are the default infection prevention measures applied to all patient care, regardless of suspected or confirmed infection status, and they encapsulate practices like hand hygiene and use of gloves, gown, and face protection if any risk of splashes or sprays exists. In addition to these precautions, droplet precautions are specifically designed to prevent the spread of pathogens like Mycoplasma pneumoniae that can be expelled during coughing, sneezing, or talking.
Whereas airborne precautions, which involve the use of specialized N95 respirator masks and are typically associated with diseases like tuberculosis and measles, are not recommended for mycoplasma pneumonia as the pathogen does not remain infectious over long distances or time periods in the air. Contact precautions, involving gowns and gloves, are not the primary method either, though they constitute a layer of safety when dealing with any infectious disease. On the other hand, droplet precautions are recommended due to the nature of respiratory droplet spread of the infection.