Saunders Respiratory Practice

Which of the following interventions would best support a client with suspected TB while waiting for diagnosis?

1. Provide high-calorie snacks throughout the day

2. Encourage isolation from healthy individuals

3. Maintain a warm room temperature for comfort

4. Limit fluid intake to reduce coughing

The correct answer is: Encourage isolation from healthy individuals

The best intervention to support a client with suspected tuberculosis (TB) while awaiting diagnosis is to encourage isolation from healthy individuals. This is critical because TB is a contagious disease that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Isolating the client minimizes the risk of transmitting the bacteria to others while the diagnosis is pending, helping to protect the health of those around them. Maintaining isolation not only safeguards public health but also allows for proper monitoring and care of the client in a controlled environment, where precautions can be taken to prevent infection. This is especially important if the patient exhibits symptoms such as a persistent cough, night sweats, or respiratory distress. While nutritional support may also be important in the long term for clients with TB, particularly for those at risk of malnutrition due to the disease, immediate isolation is paramount. Keeping the room warm for comfort or limiting fluid intake to reduce coughing does not address the critical public health aspect of managing TB and may not contribute effectively to the patient's overall care in the context of supporting suspected infectious disease processes.