A home health nurse is assessing a client who has AIDS. Which of the following responses by the client indicates a risk for suicide?

Choice A reason: Ensuring client adherence to the medication regimen is crucial in the treatment of tuberculosis. However, this action alone does not prevent the spread of the disease within the community. Adherence ensures that the client's condition improves and reduces the risk of developing drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis.

Choice B reason: Performing tuberculosis screenings throughout the community is a proactive measure to identify new cases, but it is not the most immediate action required when a nurse learns of an active case. Screenings are part of a broader strategy to control tuberculosis.

Choice C reason: Reporting the active case to the public health department is the correct action. It allows for the implementation of public health measures to prevent the spread of tuberculosis. The health department can initiate contact tracing and ensure that those exposed are tested and treated if necessary.

Choice D reason: Providing education about the manifestations of tuberculosis is important for community awareness, but it is not the immediate action required to prevent the spread. Education is a long-term strategy to help the community recognize symptoms and seek early treatment.

Choice A reason: The anthrax vaccine is ineffective following direct anthrax exposure is not a correct piece of information to include in the protocol. The anthrax vaccine can provide some protection against anthrax if given before exposure, but it cannot prevent or treat anthrax infection after exposure¹.

Choice B reason: Manifestations of anthrax infection appear within 3 days of exposure is not a correct piece of information to include in the protocol. The incubation period of anthrax varies depending on the route of exposure, but it can range from one day to several weeks. Inhalation anthrax usually has an incubation period of one to six days, but it can be longer².

Choice C reason: Prophylactic treatment should be provided to clients for 10 days following exposure to anthrax is not a correct piece of information to include in the protocol. Prophylactic treatment, or post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), is the use of antibiotics to prevent anthrax infection in people who have been exposed to anthrax spores but do not have symptoms. PEP should be given for at least 60 days, or until the person receives three doses of the anthrax vaccine³.

Choice D reason: Ciprofloxacin should be administered to asymptomatic clients who were directly exposed to anthrax is a correct piece of information to include in the protocol. Ciprofloxacin is one of the antibiotics recommended by the CDC for PEP of anthrax. It can prevent anthrax infection in people who have inhaled anthrax spores but do not have symptoms. Ciprofloxacin should be given as soon as possible after exposure and continued for 60 days, or until the person receives three doses of the anthrax vaccine..