Question

Your patient is scheduled for a one-on-one therapy session. Upon his entry into your office, you note that the patient has a cough, is sweating, is coughing up a small amount of blood, and has a fever. What is your initial intervention regarding infection control?

1) Wash all of the patient's sheets and clothes.
2) Place a mask on the patient and yourself.
3) Take the patient's temperature.
4) Place resuscitation equipment in the patient's room.

Answer 1

Placing a mask on both the patient and yourself is the initial step in infection control when the patient shows symptoms of an infectious process. Following strict hand hygiene and using personal protective equipment is also crucial.

Step-by-step explanation:

Your patient is exhibiting symptoms (cough, sweating, coughing up a small amount of blood, and fever) that suggest an infectious process. The initial intervention regarding infection control should be to place a mask on both the patient and yourself. This action helps limit the spread of infectious droplets. Hand hygiene is critical, so washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after any patient contact is essential. Additionally, relevant safety protocols such as using personal protective equipment (PPE) and proper disposal of potentially contaminated materials should be followed to protect both the health care professional and other patients. Immediate isolation and medical evaluation should be conducted to determine the cause and appropriate treatment for the symptoms.