A geriatric patient is hospitalized with anorexia and weakness secondary to persistent diarrhea.The stool culture is positive for Clostridium difficile (C.difficile).Which question should a nurse ask to identify information that may help determine the etiology of this patient's diarrhea?
A)"Did you receive antibiotics for any problems recently?"
B)"Do you use laxatives on a daily basis?"
C)"Have you traveled to a foreign country recently?"
D)"When is the last time you had a tetanus vaccination?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

C. difficile infection is commonly associated with antibiotic use, which disrupts the normal bacterial flora in the gut and allows C. difficile to overgrow. Therefore, knowing if the patient recently received antibiotics would be helpful in determining the etiology of their diarrhea. The other options (B, C, D) are not as relevant to the potential cause of C. difficile infection.

A Geriatric Patient Is Hospitalized with Anorexia and Weakness Secondary