A patient presents to the emergency department with severe watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. They report recent antibiotic use for a dental procedure. What is the most appropriate initial infection control measure for this patient?
Contact precautions are the most appropriate initial infection control measure for a patient suspected of having C. difficile infection. C. difficile spores can survive on surfaces for extended periods and are resistant to many common disinfectants. Contact precautions include wearing gloves and gowns when entering the patient's room and using dedicated or disposable equipment. This helps prevent the spread of C. difficile to other patients and healthcare workers.
Standard precautions, while always important, are not sufficient for C. difficile. Droplet precautions are used for respiratory infections, which is not the primary concern here. Airborne precautions with N95 masks are used for diseases like tuberculosis, not C. difficile.
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BCEN CEN
Environment and Toxicology Emergencies, and Communicable Diseases
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