What infection control measure is essential when caring for a client with MRSA?

Using contact precautions is essential when caring for a client with MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) because this type of infection is primarily transmitted through direct contact with contaminated surfaces or skin. Contact precautions help minimize the risk of spread by requiring healthcare providers to wear gloves and gowns when entering the patient’s room, ensuring that any potential pathogens do not transfer to other patients or healthcare environments.

This approach is crucial in preventing the transmission of MRSA, particularly in healthcare settings, where vulnerable patients may be at higher risk. Proper hand hygiene and environmental cleaning also play important roles in this context, but the primary focus of contact precautions is to protect both healthcare workers and other patients from the spread of the infection while ensuring the safety and well-being of the MRSA-positive patient.

Other infection control measures, such as standard precautions, are part of routine care, but they do not provide the same level of protection as contact precautions when dealing specifically with infections like MRSA that are known for direct person-to-person transmission. Likewise, isolating the client from all visitors and using airborne precautions are not appropriate measures for MRSA, as it does not spread through the air like airborne pathogens do.