What infection control precautions are required for suspected active tuberculosis?

What infection control precautions are required for suspected active tuberculosis?

• A. Droplet precautions: surgical mask, standard room
• B. Contact precautions: gloves and gown
• C. Airborne precautions: N95 respirator, negative-pressure room, keep door closed, patient wears a mask when leaving room; separate from others.
• D. Standard precautions only

Answer: (C)

Tuberculosis spreads through tiny airborne particles that can stay suspended in the air, so preventing transmission requires airborne precautions. A negative-pressure room pulls air in and exhausts it safely, keeping the room’s air from circulating to other areas, and the door should stay closed to maintain that differential. Healthcare workers must wear a properly fitted N95 respirator (or higher) to filter inhaled air during any contact with the patient. When the patient leaves the room, they should wear a mask to limit the release of any remaining infectious particles. Keeping the patient separate from others minimizes exposure risk. Standard precautions are important, but they aren’t enough on their own for suspected active TB; airborne precautions are added specifically to stop aerosol spread. Droplet precautions with a surgical mask wouldn’t stop the fine aerosols TB can ride in, and contact precautions address only surface or skin contact, not airborne transmission.

Tuberculosis spreads through tiny airborne particles that can stay suspended in the air, so preventing transmission requires airborne precautions. A negative-pressure room pulls air in and exhausts it safely, keeping the room’s air from circulating to other areas, and the door should stay closed to maintain that differential. Healthcare workers must wear a properly fitted N95 respirator (or higher) to filter inhaled air during any contact with the patient. When the patient leaves the room, they should wear a mask to limit the release of any remaining infectious particles. Keeping the patient separate from others minimizes exposure risk. Standard precautions are important, but they aren’t enough on their own for suspected active TB; airborne precautions are added specifically to stop aerosol spread.

Droplet precautions with a surgical mask wouldn’t stop the fine aerosols TB can ride in, and contact precautions address only surface or skin contact, not airborne transmission.