A nurse is teaching a group of newly licensed nurses about caring for a client who has a Clostridium difficile infection. Which of the following Instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?

Rationale: A. Wear a gown while providing personal hygiene: Contact precautions are required for clients with Clostridium difficile to prevent transmission via contaminated surfaces or direct contact. Wearing a gown during personal care protects the nurse’s clothing and skin from spores. B. Place the client in a room with negative airflow: Negative airflow rooms are required for airborne infections such as tuberculosis or measles. C. difficile is spread via the fecal–oral route and does not require airborne isolation measures. C. Apply a mask when providing care: Masks are necessary for droplet or airborne pathogens, but C. difficile spores are transmitted through direct or indirect contact, not respiratory droplets, so masks are not routinely required unless there is another indication. D. Wipe the stethoscope with alcohol after leaving the client's room: C. difficile spores are resistant to alcohol-based disinfectants. Cleaning equipment requires soap and water or a sporicidal disinfectant to effectively remove spores and prevent spread.