Question

The medical assistant should place which of the following patients arriving to the medical office screening area in immediate isolation?

A. A patient with a known history of Methicillin-Resistant Staph Aureus (MRSA) presenting with a new wound.
B. A patient with a known history of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) of the GI tract.
C. A patient being seen for a fever and a rash who has never had chicken pox.
D. A patient reporting a high fever, stiff neck, blurry vision, and petechial rash.

Answer 1

Immediate isolation is necessary for a patient exhibiting symptoms of meningococcal disease, such as high fever, stiff neck, and petechial rash, due to its high contagiousness and severity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The medical assistant should prioritize immediate isolation for the patient reporting a high fever, stiff neck, blurry vision, and petechial rash. These symptoms are highly suspicious of meningococcal disease, which is a severe and potentially life-threatening infection caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis. This condition is highly contagious and requires prompt isolation and medical intervention.

The other conditions listed, including a patient with MRSA and a new wound, a patient with VRE of the GI tract, and a patient with a fever and rash who has never had chickenpox, while concerning and requiring appropriate precautions, do not present with the same immediate level of communicable risk as the symptoms of meningococcal disease.