Ignatavicius Chapter 21 Matchless Wisdom.

D. The skin and mucous membranes are two of the most important barriers against infection. A nursing manager is concerned about the number of infections on the hospital unit. What action by the manager would best help prevent these infections? a. Auditing staff members' hand hygiene practices b. Ensuring clients are placed in appropriate isolation c. Establishing a policy to remove urinary catheters quickly d. Teaching staff members about infection control methods A. All methods will help prevent infection; however, health care workers' lack of hand hygiene is the biggest source of health care-associated infections. The manager can start with a hand hygiene audit to see if this is a contributing factor. An assistive personnel asks why brushing a clients' teeth with a toothbrush in the intensive care unit is important to infection control. What response by the registered nurse is BEST? A. "It mechanically removes biofilm on teeth." B. "It's easier to clean all surfaces with a brush." C. "Oral care is important to all our clients." D. "Toothbrushes last longer than oral swabs." A. Biofilms are a complex group of bacteria that function within a slimy gel on surfaces such as teeth. Mechanical disruption (i.e., toothbrushing with friction) is the best way to control them. A client is admitted with possible sepsis. Which action will the nurse perform FIRST? A. Administer antibiotics B. Give an antipyretic C. Place the client in isolation D. Obtain specified cultures D. Prior to administering antibiotics, the nurse obtains the prescribed cultures. Broadspectrum antibiotics will be administered until the culture and sensitivity results are known. A client is hospitalized and on multiple antibiotics. The client develops frequent diarrhea. What action by the nurse is MOST important?