Tuberculosis Precautions
A 45-year-old client who recently emigrated from a high-prevalence region is admitted with six weeks of cough, drenching night sweats and a 15 lb weight loss.
Recognize cues
Vital signs: temperature 38.3 C, HR 96, RR 22, SpO2 95%. The client has a productive cough with blood-streaked sputum. Chest x-ray shows an upper lobe cavitary lesion.
Which finding most strongly suggests the need for specific precautions?
Take action
The provider orders three sputum specimens for acid-fast bacilli, a tuberculin skin test, and four-drug therapy once specimens are collected.
Which two actions should the nurse take first?
Evaluate outcomes
After several weeks of directly observed therapy the client has gained 6 lb, night sweats have stopped, and three consecutive sputum smears are negative for acid-fast bacilli.
Which finding best indicates the treatment is working?
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