A nurse is caring for a client with abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Which action should the nurse take? Select all that apply

A. An N95 respirator is indicated for airborne precautions, such as in cases of Mycobacterium tuberculosis or varicella, to filter microscopic particles. Clostridium difficile is transmitted via the feco-oral route through larger bacterial spores, making a respirator scientifically unnecessary for standard care. Using such advanced equipment does not align with the contact precaution protocols required for this specific enteric pathogen. B. Negative pressure rooms are designed to prevent the spread of airborne contaminants by ensuring air flows into the room rather than out into the hallway. Because Clostridium difficile is a contact-transmitted pathogen found in stool and on environmental surfaces, it does not require specialized atmospheric pressure ventilation. The primary focus for this client must be physical barrier isolation rather than expensive and unnecessary respiratory isolation measures. C. A private room is essential for a client with Clostridium difficile to prevent cross-contamination and the spread of spores to other susceptible patients. Shared environments increase the risk of environmental shedding onto communal surfaces, which can lead to healthcare-associated outbreaks within the facility. Isolating the client ensures that the infectious reservoir is contained, allowing for the implementation of strict contact precautions and specialized environmental cleaning. D. Wearing a protective gown is a mandatory component of contact precautions to prevent the nurse's clothing from becoming contaminated with resilient bacterial spores. Clostridium difficile spores can survive for months on fabrics and surfaces, acting as a vehicle for transmission to other clients if barriers are not used. The gown provides a physical shield during direct care, effectively breaking the chain of infection between the source and the environment. E. Antimicrobial alcohol-based gel sanitizers are ineffective against Clostridium difficile because they cannot penetrate or denature the protective protein shell of the bacterial spores. The nurse must perform mechanical handwashing with antimicrobial soap and running water to physically rinse the spores from the skin surface. Relying on gel sanitizer would leave viable spores on the hands, facilitating the transmission of the pathogen to other patients. F. Placing a surgical mask on a client during transport is a requirement for droplet precautions, such as for influenza or pertussis, to contain respiratory secretions. Since Clostridium difficile is not an airborne or droplet-spread infection, a mask provides no clinical benefit for preventing the transmission of the diarrhea-causing bacteria. Transport protocols for this client should focus on containing fecal matter and ensuring the client wears a clean gown.