Which precaution is used for pertussis?

Which precaution is used for pertussis?

• A. Airborne
• B. Droplet
• C. Contact
• D. Standard

Answer: (B)

Pertussis spreads through close, person-to-person respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Because the main risk comes from these large droplets that travel only short distances, the appropriate precaution is droplet precautions. In practice, this means using a private room if possible (or cohorting with patients with the same infection), healthcare workers wear a surgical mask when they are within about 3 feet of the patient, and the patient should wear a mask during transport to limit droplet spread. Standard precautions are still used with all patients, but airborne precautions (which require negative-pressure rooms and N95 respirators) are for diseases that spread via small aerosol particles, and contact precautions are for infections spread by contact with contaminated surfaces or skin.

Pertussis spreads through close, person-to-person respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Because the main risk comes from these large droplets that travel only short distances, the appropriate precaution is droplet precautions. In practice, this means using a private room if possible (or cohorting with patients with the same infection), healthcare workers wear a surgical mask when they are within about 3 feet of the patient, and the patient should wear a mask during transport to limit droplet spread. Standard precautions are still used with all patients, but airborne precautions (which require negative-pressure rooms and N95 respirators) are for diseases that spread via small aerosol particles, and contact precautions are for infections spread by contact with contaminated surfaces or skin.