A nurse is caring for a client who has an indwelling urinary catheter. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent infection?
Change the catheter once each shift.
Check the catheter tubing for kinks or twisting.
Replace the catheter every 3 days.
Clean the perineal area with an antiseptic solution once daily.
The Correct Answer is B
Rationale:
A. Changing the catheter once each shift is unnecessary and can increase the risk of infection. Catheters should be replaced only when clinically indicated.
B. Checking the catheter tubing for kinks or twisting is essential to ensure proper drainage and reduce the risk of infection. This action promotes unobstructed urine flow, which is critical for infection prevention.
C. Replacing the catheter every 3 days is not a standard practice; catheters should be changed based on clinical need rather than a set schedule. This could unnecessarily increase the risk of infection.
D. While cleaning the perineal area is important, using an antiseptic solution daily may cause irritation and disrupt the normal flora of the area. Routine cleaning with mild soap and water is typically recommended instead.
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Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Rationale:
A. A wet-to-dry dressing is typically used for debridement and is not appropriate for a shallow pressure ulcer without necrotic tissue, as it can damage healthy tissue during dressing changes.
B. Leaving the area without a dressing is not advisable as it exposes the wound to contaminants and increases the risk of infection; a dressing should be used to protect the area.
C. A hydrocolloid dressing is ideal for shallow partial-thickness wounds as it provides a moist environment, promotes healing, and helps to cushion the area while maintaining a barrier against bacteria.
D. Alginate dressings are primarily used for wounds with moderate to heavy exudate and would not be suitable in this case due to the lack of drainage.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Cleansing the wound with 0.9% sodium chloride saline irrigation helps remove debris and bacteria from the wound surface, ensuring that the specimen collected for culture reflects the infection present in the wound rather than contaminants.
B. Including intact skin at the wound edges in the culture is not advisable, as it may introduce flora that do not represent the infection. The focus should be on obtaining a specimen from the wound itself.
C. Swabbing an area of skin away from the wound to identify normal flora is not relevant when assessing an infection. The culture should target the actual infected area to determine the causative organisms.
D. Irrigating the wound with an antiseptic prior to obtaining the specimen can alter the bacterial load present and lead to inaccurate culture results, as it may kill or wash away organisms that need to be identified.