A nurse is caring for a client with an infected surgical wound. Which nursing intervention interrupts the reservoir in the chain of infection?

A. Instruct the client to keep the wound covered when around others: Covering the wound helps prevent transmission to others, interrupting the mode of exit and transmission, but does not eliminate the reservoir where pathogens thrive. B. Administer the prescribed antibiotic therapy: Antibiotics reduce microbial load within the host and help treat the infection, targeting the pathogen, but they do not directly interrupt the physical reservoir in the environment or on the patient. C. Change the soiled wound dressing: Removing contaminated dressings and replacing them with sterile ones directly eliminates the pathogen’s reservoir, reducing the chance of microorganisms multiplying and spreading. This intervention targets the source of infection in the chain of infection. D. Perform hand hygiene before and after wound care: Hand hygiene interrupts transmission between the reservoir and susceptible hosts but does not remove or eliminate the reservoir itself. It prevents the spread rather than addressing the source.