Safe, Effective Care Environment
7. What isolation precautions are necessary for a client with a history of hepatitis C who is "anti-HCV positive?"
Safe, Effective Care Environment
7. What isolation precautions are necessary for a client with a history of hepatitis C who is "anti-HCV positive?"
. Enteric precautions.
. Resistant-organism contact precautions.
. Reverse isolation.
. Standard precautions.
Test-Taking Tip
Know the indications for the different approaches to infection control. Without evidence of active disease, standard precautions are used with all clients.
Content Area: Adult Health, Infectious Disease; Integrated Process: Nursing Process, Planning; Cognitive Level: Application; Client Need/Subneed: Safe and Effective Care Environment/Safety and Infection Control/Standard/Transmission-based/Other Precautions
Safe, Effective Care Environment
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Answer 1 is incorrect because the presence of antibodies against the hepatitis C virus (HCV) means that the client has had hepatitis C in the past but is not necessarily still infected. This is a blood-borne infection; therefore, enteric precautions are not required. Answer 2 is incorrect because resistant-organisms contact precautions are used for bacterial infections that are not easily treated with standard antibiotics. Hepatitis C is a viral infection. Answer 3 is incorrect because "reverse isolation" is an outdated term describing practices that had been designed to protect clients who are vulnerable to infection. Answer 4 is correct because the presence of antibodies against the hepatitis C virus (HCV) means that the client has had hepatitis C in the past, but is not necessarily still infected. Management of this potential blood-borne infection involves standard precautions.