What is the primary objective of airborne precautions?

The primary objective of airborne precautions is to protect patients from airborne diseases. These precautions are specifically designed to safeguard individuals from infectious agents that can be transmitted through the air. Conditions such as tuberculosis, measles, and varicella are examples of diseases that require airborne precautions because the pathogens can remain suspended in the air, allowing them to be inhaled by susceptible individuals.

This approach involves using specialized rooms with negative air pressure, ensuring that the air does not flow out of the room to other areas, thus reducing the risk of spreading the infection. Additionally, healthcare workers and visitors are required to wear appropriate respiratory protection, such as N95 respirators or higher-level masks, when interacting with patients known or suspected to have airborne-transmissible infections.

Understanding the nature of how airborne infections are transmitted is essential for implementing the appropriate precautions effectively and safeguarding both the patient and healthcare workers from potential exposure.