HESI Registered Nurse EXIT Practice Exam

What type of isolation is appropriate for a client with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus pneumonia?

1. Reverse

2. Airborne

3. Standard precautions

4. Contact

The correct answer is: Contact

The appropriate type of isolation for a client with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pneumonia is contact isolation. This approach is necessary because MRSA is a multidrug-resistant organism that can easily be transmitted through direct contact with contaminated surfaces or through person-to-person contact. Contact isolation protocols focus on preventing the spread of bacteria from the patient's skin or wounds. Healthcare providers and caregivers must wear appropriate personal protective equipment, such as gloves and gowns, to minimize the risk of transmission. This level of precaution is essential, given that MRSA can reside on the skin of colonized individuals and can be found in respiratory secretions, making it crucial to mitigate any contact with these sources. While airborne precautions are typically required for pathogens that can be transmitted through the air over long distances, such as tuberculosis, these are not relevant for MRSA pneumonia. Standard precautions, which are used for all patients, are not sufficient alone in this context because they do not specifically address the heightened risk posed by MRSA. Reverse isolation is utilized when protecting a compromised immune system; however, in the case of a patient with MRSA pneumonia, the focus is on preventing the spread of the infection rather than protecting the patient from external pathogens.