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A nurse has a respiratory infection and cannot be moved off direct patient care. What is advised?
AWork only with patients who are already coughing
BWork a full shift once antipyretics are started
CWork only in areas where high risk patients stay
DWear a mask while providing patient care
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. Wear a mask while providing patient care
1. Personnel with a respiratory infection are advised to avoid direct patient contact, especially with high risk patients.
2. Where avoiding contact is not possible, a mask should be worn while providing patient care.
3. High risk patients are the group to move away from, so choosing to work among them inverts the advice.
4. Lowering a fever with medication does not stop the shedding of the agent, and grouping infected staff with coughing patients protects nobody.
_Source: CDC Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings (2007), Part III, section III.A.1.a. Respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette_
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