Clostridium Difficile Colitis Question and Answer

Clostridium Difficile Colitis Question and Answer

Question

A client is being admitted to the health care facility with a new diagnosis of 
Clostridium difficile
 colitis.  Which elements of infectious disease precautions are necessary when providing routine care for this client?  
Select all that apply.

Alcohol-based sanitizers for hand cleaning

Client in single-room (private) isolation

Nurse using N95 respirator

Nurse using sterile gloves

Nurse using surgical mask

Nurse wearing disposable gown

Clostridium Difficile Colitis Question and Answer

Answer

Correct answer

2,6

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Explanation

Clostridium difficile
 requires 
contact precautions
 under the guidelines published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Place the client in 
single-room
 isolation (preferred) or cohort with other 
C difficile
-infected clients

All surfaces within 3 feet of the bed are considered contaminated

Personal protective equipment (
gown and gloves
) must be discarded before leaving the room

Hand hygiene must be performed with 
soap and water

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers do not kill 
C difficile
 spores 
(Option 1)

Dedicated medical equipment (stethoscope, blood pressure cuff) should remain in the room

(Option 3)
  For client care involving airborne precautions, a class N95 or higher grade respirator must be used in lieu of a surgical mask to avoid potential exposure to aerosolized particles.  Surgical masks are rated for barrier protection for droplet splashing and filtration of large respiratory particles only.

(Option 4)
  Regular clean gloves (not sterile) are needed.

(Option 5)
  Surgical masks are rated for barrier protection from droplet-based disease transmission and provide only filtration for large respiratory particles.  Masks are required during any activity with the possibility of fluids splashing (suctioning, wound care).

Clostridium Difficile Colitis Question and Answer Educational objective:

Clostridium difficile
 requires contact-based precautions – private isolation room preferred, disposable gown, and nitrile gloves.  
C difficile
 requires the use of 
soap and water
, not alcohol-based hand sanitizers, to prevent transmission.