A nurse is teaching about food choices to a client who has chronic kidney disease and must limit potassium intake. Which of the following choices should the nurse recommend as containing the least potassium?

Choice A reason: A client with diabetes mellitus presenting with acute ketoacidosis does not necessarily require a private room unless there are other infection control concerns. Acute ketoacidosis is a metabolic complication of diabetes that can be managed in a general ward setting with appropriate medical care and monitoring.

Choice B reason: An older adult client admitted with aspiration pneumonia would benefit from a private room if the pneumonia is caused by an infectious agent that requires droplet or airborne precautions. However, aspiration pneumonia is often a result of inhaling food, stomach acid, or saliva into the lungs, and not always infectious.

Choice C reason: A client with a compound fracture of the right femur would require a private room if there is an associated risk of infection due to the open nature of the injury. However, standard precautions and wound care can often be managed in a semi-private or general ward setting unless there are specific infection control issues.

Choice D reason: A client reporting fever, night sweats, and cough for 2 days may be exhibiting symptoms of a communicable disease such as tuberculosis. This client would require a private room with airborne precautions to prevent the spread of infection to other patients and healthcare workers.

The correct answer is: c. Wear a surgical mask when providing care to the client.

Choice A: Perform a Mantoux skin test on the client

The Mantoux skin test is used to screen for tuberculosis, not pertussis. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a bacterial infection caused by Bordetella pertussis. The Mantoux test would not be relevant or helpful in diagnosing or managing pertussis.

Choice B: Assign the client to a negative-pressure airflow room

Negative-pressure airflow rooms are typically used for airborne infections such as tuberculosis, measles, or varicella. Pertussis is primarily spread through respiratory droplets, not airborne transmission, so a negative-pressure room is not necessary.

Choice C: Wear a surgical mask when providing care to the client

Wearing a surgical mask is appropriate when caring for a client with pertussis. Pertussis is spread through respiratory droplets, and wearing a mask helps prevent the transmission of the bacteria to healthcare workers and other patients.

Choice D: Recommend that the client’s family members receive antiviral therapy

Antiviral therapy is not effective against pertussis, which is a bacterial infection. Instead, antibiotics such as azithromycin or erythromycin are used to treat pertussis and prevent its spread. Therefore, recommending antiviral therapy would not be appropriate.