Precautions used when caring for a rubella patient?

AIIMS Rishikesh & Jodhpur NO - 2017

Applied Microbiology & Infection control

Easy

Appeared in: AIIMS Rishikesh & Jodhpur NO - 2017

Explanation

Rubella, also known as German Measles, is transmitted via large respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.
Droplet precautions are the specific category of transmission-based precautions required to prevent the spread of pathogens transmitted through this route.
Key measures for Droplet precautions include placing the patient in a private room, wearing a surgical mask when in close contact (within 3 feet), and practicing diligent hand hygiene.
These measures effectively interrupt the transmission of the rubella virus from the infected patient to healthcare workers and other patients.

Option B: Contact precautions are for infections spread by direct or indirect contact with the patient or their environment. Rubella is primarily spread through respiratory droplets, not by touch.
Option C: Universal precautions (now part of Standard Precautions) are the minimum infection prevention practices that apply to all patient care. While essential, they are insufficient alone for rubella, which requires the addition of Droplet precautions.
Option D: Hand washing is a single, critical action within all levels of precautions, not a type of precaution itself. The question asks for the specific precaution category required for rubella.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Infection control and transmission-based precautions for rubella to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Correctly identifying and implementing transmission-based precautions is a fundamental nursing responsibility to prevent the spread of nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections.
Failure to use Droplet precautions for a rubella patient can lead to an outbreak, endangering other vulnerable patients, staff, and visitors.
A non-immune pregnant healthcare worker must not be assigned to care for a patient with rubella, as the virus can cause severe birth defects known as Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS).

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question: 'rubella'.
Next, recall the mode of transmission for rubella. It is a respiratory virus spread by coughing and sneezing.
Analyze the given options, which represent different types or components of infection control.
Match the mode of transmission (respiratory droplets) to the corresponding precaution type. Large droplets that travel short distances require 'Droplet' precautions.
Differentiate between a specific precaution category (like Droplet) and a universal action (like Hand washing). The question asks for the overall precaution strategy, making 'Droplet' the most accurate and comprehensive answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Infection control and transmission-based precautions for rubella.
Stem keywords: precautions, caring, rubella patient
Lead-in keywords: Precautions used

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