A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has an impaired immune system due to chemotherapy. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching?

Clients receiving chemotherapy often develop immunosuppression due to bone marrow suppression, placing them at increased risk for infections. Preventive teaching focuses on reducing exposure to pathogens, maintaining personal hygiene, and avoiding sources of contamination. Care strategies emphasize safe daily hygiene practices, environmental precautions, and infection prevention measures to protect the client during periods of low immunity. A. Washing the perineal area twice daily with antimicrobial soap is appropriate because it helps reduce microbial colonization in a high-risk area for infection. Proper perineal hygiene is especially important in immunocompromised clients to prevent urinary and genital tract infections. Gentle cleansing helps maintain skin integrity and reduces infection risk. B. Changing a pet’s litter box daily is not appropriate for an immunocompromised client because it increases exposure to organisms such as Toxoplasma gondii and other zoonotic pathogens. Clients receiving chemotherapy should avoid direct contact with animal waste to reduce infection risk. If possible, another household member should perform this task. C. Washing a toothbrush in the dishwasher is unnecessary and not a recommended infection control practice. While oral hygiene is important in immunocompromised clients, toothbrushes should be replaced regularly rather than sanitized in a dishwasher. This method does not effectively ensure sterility or prevent contamination. D. Changing the water in a drinking glass every 4 hours is not necessary and does not significantly reduce infection risk. While maintaining clean drinking utensils is important, water itself in a clean glass does not require frequent replacement. More important measures include using clean water sources and proper hand hygiene.