Which component is essential to airborne precautions?

Which component is essential to airborne precautions?

• A. Hand hygiene alone
• B. Gloves only
• C. Ventilation system with HEPA filter
• D. Negative pressure room and N95 respirator

Answer: (D)

Airborne precautions center on preventing inhalation of small, stay-put particles and keeping contaminated air from spreading to other areas. The essential components combine environmental control with personal protection. A negative pressure room ensures air flows into the room and is exhausted or filtered, preventing contaminated air from leaving to adjacent spaces. An N95 respirator provides a tight seal and effective filtration for the person entering or working in that space, reducing the risk of inhaling infectious aerosols. Other measures like hand hygiene or gloves are important for infection control in general but do not address airborne transmission on their own, and while a ventilation system with filtration helps reduce airborne particles, it does not guarantee protection without the negative pressure and proper respirator.

Airborne precautions center on preventing inhalation of small, stay-put particles and keeping contaminated air from spreading to other areas. The essential components combine environmental control with personal protection. A negative pressure room ensures air flows into the room and is exhausted or filtered, preventing contaminated air from leaving to adjacent spaces. An N95 respirator provides a tight seal and effective filtration for the person entering or working in that space, reducing the risk of inhaling infectious aerosols. Other measures like hand hygiene or gloves are important for infection control in general but do not address airborne transmission on their own, and while a ventilation system with filtration helps reduce airborne particles, it does not guarantee protection without the negative pressure and proper respirator.