What are the three categories of transmission-based precautions?

What are the three categories of transmission-based precautions?

• A. airborne, droplet, and contact precautions
• B. standard precautions, universal precautions, and reactive
• C. protective isolation only
• D. chemical precautions

Answer: (A)

Transmission-based precautions are added to standard precautions based on how an infection spreads. There are three categories: airborne, droplet, and contact precautions. Airborne precautions protect against infections spread by tiny particles that can remain suspended in the air. This typically requires a negative-pressure room and an N95 respirator or respirator when caring for the patient. Droplet precautions target larger respiratory droplets that travel short distances when a person talks, coughs, or sneezes. Protective measures include staying at least about three feet away from the patient and using a surgical mask; eye protection may be added as needed. Contact precautions are used for infections spread by direct contact with the patient or contaminated surfaces. They require gloves and a gown, with careful hand hygiene and often dedicated equipment to prevent transmission. Other groupings don’t fit the framework for transmission-based precautions. Standard precautions (and universal precautions) are the baseline for all patients, not a three-category system. Protective isolation refers to protecting a vulnerable patient rather than classifying how transmission occurs, and chemical precautions are not part of the transmission-based categories.

Transmission-based precautions are added to standard precautions based on how an infection spreads. There are three categories: airborne, droplet, and contact precautions.

Airborne precautions protect against infections spread by tiny particles that can remain suspended in the air. This typically requires a negative-pressure room and an N95 respirator or respirator when caring for the patient.

Droplet precautions target larger respiratory droplets that travel short distances when a person talks, coughs, or sneezes. Protective measures include staying at least about three feet away from the patient and using a surgical mask; eye protection may be added as needed.

Contact precautions are used for infections spread by direct contact with the patient or contaminated surfaces. They require gloves and a gown, with careful hand hygiene and often dedicated equipment to prevent transmission.

Other groupings don’t fit the framework for transmission-based precautions. Standard precautions (and universal precautions) are the baseline for all patients, not a three-category system. Protective isolation refers to protecting a vulnerable patient rather than classifying how transmission occurs, and chemical precautions are not part of the transmission-based categories.