A nurse is preparing to admit a client who has a new diagnosis of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The nurse should plan to place the client in which of the following types of transmission-based precautions?

Choice A Reason:

Rubeola, also known as measles, is highly contagious and spreads through airborne transmission. The virus can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person coughs or sneezes. This makes it one of the most easily spread diseases through airborne particles.

Choice B Reason:

Clostridium difficile (C. diff) is primarily transmitted through the fecal-oral route, not through airborne transmission. It spreads via spores that can survive on surfaces and be ingested, leading to infection.

Choice C Reason:

Varicella, or chickenpox, is transmitted through airborne particles. The virus can spread through direct contact with the fluid from the blisters or through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. This makes it an airborne disease.

Choice D Reason:

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, speaks, or sings. The bacteria can remain suspended in the air for several hours, making TB an airborne disease.

Choice E Reason:

Staphylococcus aureus is not typically transmitted through airborne means. It spreads through direct contact with infected wounds, contaminated surfaces, or through respiratory droplets in some cases. However, it is not considered an airborne disease.

Choice A Reason: Autoimmune disorder affecting the bones

Osteoporosis is not an autoimmune disorder. Autoimmune disorders involve the immune system attacking the body’s own tissues, which is not the case with osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is primarily characterized by a decrease in bone density and mass, leading to fragile bones.

Choice B Reason: Buildup of inflammation in the joints

While inflammation can affect bone health, osteoporosis is not primarily caused by inflammation in the joints. Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis involve joint inflammation, but osteoporosis involves the loss of bone density and strength, not joint inflammation.

Choice C Reason: Increase in calcium levels in the blood

An increase in calcium levels in the blood is not a characteristic of osteoporosis. In fact, osteoporosis often involves a decrease in bone calcium content, leading to weaker bones. Hypercalcemia, or high calcium levels in the blood, is associated with other conditions such as hyperparathyroidism.

Choice D Reason: Bone loss in the cortical and cancellous bones

This is the correct description of the pathophysiology of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis involves the loss of bone density in both the cortical (hard outer layer) and cancellous (spongy inner layer) bones. This loss leads to bones becoming brittle and more susceptible to fractures.