A nurse is assisting in the care of a client who is on isolation for an infection with vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE). Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent the spread of infection?

A. Place the client in a negative pressure room: Negative pressure rooms are used for airborne diseases like tuberculosis or measles, where pathogens are airborne. VRE is a contact-transmitted infection, not airborne, so a negative pressure room is not necessary. B. Wear a gown and gloves during client interactions and care: VRE is spread through direct contact with contaminated surfaces or bodily fluids. Wearing a gown and gloves provides the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the infection through contact transmission. C. Wear a surgical mask during client interactions and care: A surgical mask is primarily used for droplet precautions (e.g., influenza), not for contact precautions like VRE. A mask is not necessary unless the client has a respiratory infection or if there is a risk of splashing bodily fluids. D. Place the client in a room with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration for incoming air: HEPA filtration is used for airborne infections such as tuberculosis. Since VRE is not an airborne pathogen, this measure is unnecessary for preventing the spread of VRE.