Which of the following actions can the nurse take to help prevent a health care-associated infection in an incontinent patient?

A. Perform hand hygiene before, during, and after direct contact with the client: Hand hygiene is one of the most effective strategies to interrupt the transmission of infections. It helps prevent the spread of pathogens from one person to another, reducing the risk of healthcare-associated infections.
B. Encourage the client to consume a diet high in protein: While proper nutrition is important for overall health and immune function, it does not directly address the transmission of the client's infection.

C. Change the client's bed linens each day: Changing bed linens regularly is important for maintaining cleanliness and comfort but is not sufficient to interrupt the transmission of infection.

D. Place the client in a room with positive pressure airflow: Positive pressure airflow rooms are typically used for patients with compromised immune systems to protect them from airborne pathogens. This strategy is not applicable for all types of infections and may not be necessary for every client with an infection.

A. "All patients are presumed infectious.": This statement reflects the principle of universal precautions, which assumes that all patients may potentially transmit infectious agents, regardless of their diagnosis or symptoms. It emphasizes the importance of implementing infection prevention practices for every patient encounter to minimize the risk of transmission.
B. "Isolation is not required for most diseases.": While isolation precautions may not be required for all diseases, the statement does not fully capture the concept of universal precautions.
C. "Patients with a known infection are placed in isolation only when they are admitted.": This statement is not accurate as patients with known infections should be placed in isolation as soon as possible to prevent the spread of infection to others.
D. "Patients are not considered infectious until confirmed so by the laboratory.": Waiting for laboratory confirmation before implementing infection control measures could lead to delays in preventing transmission, as patients may be infectious before laboratory results are available.