The triage nurse has one isolation room left in the emergency department. Which priority client should be assigned to this room? A)Child with chickenpox for the past 14 days; all lesions are crusted and dried B)Child with impetigo who has been on antibiotics for 3 days C)Child with leg rash secondary to poison ivy exposure D)Child with suspected pertussis who has paroxysms of coughing

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Paroxysms of rapid coughing that lead to vomiting are a key feature of pertussis infection. Pertussis is a highly contagious disease and requires droplet precautions. It can be deadly if contracted in infancy before vaccination is started. This client should be placed in isolation immediately to prevent the spread of disease. (Option A) Chickenpox is no longer contagious after the lesions have crusted and dried, but this process can take as long as 3 weeks. This client would not require isolation. (Option B) Impetigo is no longer contagious after 24 hours of antibiotics. This client would not require isolation. (Option C) Poison ivy rash is not considered contagious. A person develops the rash only on contact with the urushiol oil itself. The pustules do not contain this oil, and therefore the rash cannot be spread via person-to-person contact. Educational objective: Chickenpox is no longer contagious after the lesions have crusted and dried. Pertussis is a highly contagious disease that requires droplet precautions.

The Triage Nurse Has One Isolation Room Left in the Emergency