Author Question: The community health nurse learns that an adult community member has been diagnosed with diphtheria. ... (Read 222 times)

madam-professor · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

The community health nurse learns that an adult community member has been diagnosed with diphtheria. What should the nurse do to prevent the spread of this infection?

Select all that apply.

1. provide the Tdap vaccine as prescribed
2. instruct the patient to ingest milk and dairy products
3. obtain throat cultures from the patient's close contacts
4. ensure the patient's diagnosis has been reported to the local health department
5. counsel the patient's family members to take antibiotics for 3 days as prescribed

Question 2

The nurse is caring for patients who have been exposed to the influenza virus. For which patients should the nurse recognize that the antiviral drug zanamivir (Relenza) would be contraindicated?

Select all that apply.

1. patient with arthritis
2. patient with heart failure
3. patient diagnosed with COPD
4. patient being treated for asthma
5. patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus

dellikani2015 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 1, 3, 4, 5
Preventing further cases of diphtheria is a nursing responsibility. Throat cultures are obtained from all close contacts. Asymptomatic disease carriers are confined to home until at least 3 days of antibiotic therapy have been completed. All contacts should receive the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine, which is given only once. Diphtheria is a reportable disease. The local health department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should be informed about all suspected and confirmed cases. Milk and dairy products thicken respiratory secretions, which would not be ideal for the patient with diphtheria because the respiratory tract is affected with a thick pseudomembranous material.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 3, 4

The antiviral drug zanamivir (Relenza) may be used to reduce the duration and severity of flu symptoms. Zanamivir can precipitate bronchospasm in patients with a history of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is not recommended for use in these patients. This medication is not contraindicated in patients with arthritis, heart failure, or type 2 diabetes mellitus.