A nurse is preparing to admit a client who has a new diagnosis of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The nurse should plan to place the client in which of the following types of transmission-based precautions?

Choice A Reason:

Nutritional therapy focuses on dietary needs and ensuring patients receive adequate nutrition. While this is important for overall health, it does not directly address the swallowing difficulties experienced by patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Choice B Reason:

This is the correct answer. Speech therapy is essential for patients with Parkinson’s disease who have difficulty swallowing. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are trained to assess and treat swallowing disorders (dysphagia). They can provide exercises and strategies to improve swallowing function and reduce the risk of aspiration.

Choice C Reason:

Occupational therapy helps patients with daily living activities and improving motor skills. While occupational therapists can assist with feeding techniques, they do not specialize in treating swallowing disorders.

Choice D Reason:

Respiratory therapy focuses on breathing and lung function. It is not directly related to swallowing difficulties, although respiratory therapists may be involved if there are complications such as aspiration pneumonia.

Choice A Reason:

Contact precautions are recommended for patients with MRSA to prevent the spread of the bacteria. This includes measures such as placing the patient in a single room, using personal protective equipment (PPE) like gowns and gloves, and ensuring proper hand hygiene. These precautions help to minimize the risk of transmission through direct or indirect contact with the patient or their environment.

Choice B Reason:

Protective precautions, also known as reverse isolation, are used to protect immunocompromised patients from infections. This is not applicable for MRSA patients, as the goal is to prevent the spread of MRSA to others, not to protect the patient from external infections.

Choice C Reason:

Airborne precautions are used for diseases that are transmitted through the air, such as tuberculosis or measles. MRSA is not transmitted through airborne particles, so this type of precaution is not appropriate.

Choice D Reason:

Droplet precautions are used for diseases that are spread through large respiratory droplets, such as influenza or pertussis. MRSA is primarily spread through direct contact, not through respiratory droplets, making droplet precautions unnecessary.