An immunosuppressed patient is receiving chemotherapy treatment at home. What infection-control measure should the nurse recommend to the family?

Question

A) Family members should avoid receiving vaccinations until the patient has recovered from his or her illness.
B) Wipe down hard surfaces with a dilute bleach solution once per day.
C) Maintain cleanliness in the home, but recognize that the home does not need to be sterile.
D) Avoid physical contact with the patient unless absolutely necessary.

Answer 1

Ans: C
Feedback:
When assessing the risk of the immunosuppressed patient in the home environment for infection, it is important to realize that intrinsic colonizing bacteria and latent viral infections present a greater risk than do extrinsic environmental contaminants. The nurse should reassure the patient and family that their home needs to be clean but not sterile. Common-sense approaches to cleanliness and risk reduction are helpful. The family need not avoid vaccinations and it is unnecessary to avoid all contact or to wipe down surfaces daily.