Question

A patient in the outpatient clinic is diagnosed with acute hepatitis C (HCV) infection. Which

action by the nurse is appropriate?
a. Schedule the patient for HCV genotype testing.
b. Administer the HCV vaccine and immune globulin.
c. Teach the patient about ribavirin (Rebetol) treatment.
d. Explain that the infection will resolve over a few months.

Answer 1

In a patient diagnosed with acute hepatitis C (HCV) infection, the appropriate nursing action is:

**a. Schedule the patient for HCV genotype testing.**

Determining the HCV genotype is important for guiding treatment decisions. Different HCV genotypes may respond differently to antiviral therapy, so knowing the genotype helps healthcare providers choose the most effective treatment regimen. Therefore, scheduling the patient for HCV genotype testing is an essential step in the management of acute HCV infection.

Options b, c, and d are not appropriate in the context of acute HCV infection:

- Administering the HCV vaccine and immune globulin (Option b) is not a recommended treatment for acute HCV infection.
- Ribavirin (Rebetol) treatment (Option c) is typically used for chronic HCV infection and is not the primary treatment for acute cases.
- Explaining that the infection will resolve over a few months (Option d) is an oversimplification. While some cases of acute HCV infection may resolve on their own, others can progress to chronic infection, making early diagnosis and appropriate management crucial.