A nurse is caring for Mrs. Thomas, an adult female who sustained second-to-third-degree burn injuries in the anterior and posterior thorax. A physician orders silver sulfadiazine during wound dressing. The nurse recognizes the client’s susceptibility to infection. Which of the following is the best action to prevent wound infection during cleaning and dressing?
Explanation
Answer: D - The best action to prevent infection during wound dressing is to wear sterile gloves, mask, and gown. Wound care, in this case, requires strict adherence to aseptic technique. Using an irrigation system is more appropriate for the removal of debris in the wound bed. This action is not the best intervention to prevent infection. Povidine iodine is not indicated forclients with burns because it is known to dry out the tissues and cause further damage. Initiation of contact precautions is not appropriate to a burned client. Contact precautions are applied to clients with communicable diseases, such as cholera and dysentery.
