Which infection-control practice is appropriate for a leukemia patient to reduce infection risk?

• A. Administering ibuprofen as needed for fever or pain.
• B. Notifying the provider of any temperature >100.4°F
• C. Using a stethoscope and equipment dedicated to only this client.
• D. Obtaining a BMP to evaluate for myelosuppression.

Answer: (C)

Infection-control measures for an immunocompromised patient focus on preventing pathogen transmission. A person with leukemia often has neutropenia, meaning their kidneys and immune defenses are down, so even everyday bacteria can cause serious infection. Using a stethoscope and other equipment dedicated to this client prevents contamination from other patients or environments from reaching them, and it also stops this patient’s potentially colonizing organisms from spreading to shared tools. This direct barrier to transmission is the most effective in reducing infection risk.

Other choices don’t directly address transmission prevention. Giving ibuprofen for fever or pain can mask fever and delay infection recognition. Notifying the provider about a fever is important for timely treatment, but it’s a clinical response rather than a preventive infection-control measure. Ordering a BMP to assess myelosuppression informs risk but doesn’t reduce infection risk by itself.