There is an outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in the community

Question

The nurse is responsible for the dissemination of the education plan adopted by the public health department. Key components of the plan should include: (Select all that apply.)
A) Quarantining infected families in their homes
B) Respiratory hygiene
C) Hand hygiene
D) Droplet precautions for visitors in contact with affected clients
E) Contact precautions for all cases

Answer 1

Ans: B, C, D
Feedback:
To prevent the transmission of all respiratory infections, respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette measures should be implemented at the first point of contact with a potentially infected person and should be incorporated into standard precautions. This includes covering the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using tissues to contain respiratory secretions and disposing of them in the nearest waste receptacle after use, and hand hygiene (e.g., handwashing with nonantimicrobial soap and water, an alcohol-based hand rub, or an antiseptic hand wash) after having contact with respiratory secretions and contaminated objects/materials. In addition to standard precautions, all individuals, including visitors and healthcare providers, in contact with clients with an acute respiratory infection should use droplet precautions, which include wearing a surgical mask when in close contact (i.e., within approximately 3 feet) and on entering the room of the client. The 2013 World Health Organization guidelines for a suspected or confirmed case of MERS-CoV infection called for placing the client in a single isolation room with equal or greater than 12 air exchanges per hour, not quarantining infected families in their homes. Contact precautions are only needed when contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, or nonintact skin is anticipated.