Which measure should the college health clinic nurse implement to reduce the incidence of meningococcal meningitis in college freshmen?

A) 3/1,000:
To calculate the rate per 1,000, you divide the number of new positive tests by the total number of students tested, then multiply by 1,000. For 15 new positive tests among 500 students, the rate is (15/500) * 1,000 = 30/1,000. Thus, 3/1,000 is incorrect.

B) 30/1,000:
The correct calculation for the rate per 1,000 is determined by dividing the number of new positive tests (15) by the total number of students tested (500) and then multiplying by 1,000. Therefore, (15/500) * 1,000 = 30/1,000. This rate accurately reflects the proportion of students with positive tests per 1,000.

C) 1.7/1,000:
The rate of 1.7/1,000 would result from incorrect calculations. Using the correct formula, the rate per 1,000 should be 30/1,000.

D) 15/1,000:
The rate of 15/1,000 suggests that there are 15 positive tests per 1,000 students, which does not reflect the actual number of new positive tests (15) among 500 students. The correct rate calculation yields 30/1,000, not 15/1,000.

A) Provide dorm teaching sessions about the need to finish prescribed antibiotic doses:
While educating about antibiotic adherence is important, it is not specifically targeted to meningococcal meningitis. This intervention is more relevant to managing infections rather than preventing meningococcal meningitis, which is primarily preventable through vaccination.

B) Encourage incoming freshmen to obtain the meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine prior to dorm living:
Meningococcal meningitis is a significant risk in college environments due to close living conditions. The meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine is effective in preventing the disease. Encouraging incoming freshmen to receive this vaccine before starting dorm life directly addresses the prevention of meningococcal meningitis and is the most effective measure for reducing incidence in this high-risk population.

C) Require documentation from incoming freshmen that Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) vaccinations are current:
While Hib vaccinations are important for preventing certain bacterial infections, they are not specifically related to meningococcal meningitis. The Hib vaccine is not a primary prevention method for meningococcal disease, making this measure less relevant for addressing meningococcal meningitis.

D) Develop a clinic protocol for the prophylactic use of isoniazid for positive reactors:
Isoniazid is used for tuberculosis prophylaxis, not for preventing meningococcal meningitis. Developing a protocol for isoniazid would not impact the incidence of meningococcal meningitis and is therefore not relevant to this particular prevention goal.