What is an example of a client's primary defense to infection?

Choice A reason: Creating a susceptible host is not a way to break the chain of infection, but rather a way to facilitate it. A susceptible host is someone who is vulnerable to infection due to factors such as age, immunocompromised status, or chronic diseases.

Choice B reason: Maintaining the integrity of a portal of entry is a way to break the chain of infection, because it prevents the entry of microorganisms into the body. A portal of entry is any place where microorganisms can enter the body, such as the skin, mucous membranes, or respiratory tract. By reducing skin breakdown, the nurse is protecting the skin from becoming a portal of entry for infection.

Choice C reason: Creating a reservoir to decrease the risk of infection is a contradiction, because a reservoir is a place where microorganisms can multiply and survive, such as a human, animal, or environment. A reservoir increases the risk of infection, not decreases it.

Choice D reason: Sterilizing the area to reduce the reservoir risk is a way to break the chain of infection, but it is not related to reducing skin breakdown. Sterilizing the area means killing or removing all microorganisms from a surface or object, such as a surgical instrument or a wound dressing. This can reduce the reservoir risk, but it does not affect the integrity of the skin as a portal of entry.

Choice A reason: This is an incorrect answer because Medicare is a federal health insurance program that covers certain groups of people, such as the elderly, the disabled, and the lowincome. Medicare does not publish the National Patient Safety Goals, but it does have its own quality and safety standards that health care providers must meet to receive reimbursement.

Choice B reason: This is an incorrect answer because the American Nurses Association (ANA) is a professional organization that represents the interests of registered nurses in the United States. The ANA does not publish the National Patient Safety Goals, but it does have its own code of ethics, standards of practice, and policies that guide nursing practice and promote quality and safety.

Choice C reason: This is the correct answer because the Joint Commission is an independent, nonprofit organization that accredits and certifies more than 22,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. The Joint Commission publishes the National Patient Safety Goals, which are specific and measurable goals that address the most critical patient safety issues in health care. The Joint Commission updates the goals annually based on the latest evidence and expert input.

Choice D reason: This is an incorrect answer because the Institute of Medicine (IOM) is a division of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, which is a private, nonprofit organization that provides independent, objective, and authoritative advice to inform policy and practice. The IOM does not publish the National Patient Safety Goals, but it does conduct research and issue reports on various topics related to health and health care, including quality and safety.