Which precautions are used for airborne infections?

• A. Droplet precautions with a surgical mask.
• B. Standard precautions only.
• C. Contact precautions with gloves and gown.
• D. Airborne precautions, including a negative-pressure room and N95 respirator.

Answer: (D)

Airborne infections involve tiny particles that can stay suspended in air and travel beyond close contact. Protecting both patients and staff requires isolating the source with a negative‑pressure room, which pulls air in and exhausts it safely so contaminated air doesn’t leak into other areas. The healthcare worker then uses a well‑fitted N95 respirator (or higher) to filter out airborne particles during any exposure. This combination specifically targets inhalation of aerosols, which is the main route of transmission for these pathogens. Standard precautions don’t stop airborne spread, droplet precautions address larger droplets that fall to nearby surfaces, and contact precautions focus on transmission through surfaces and direct contact. So, negative‑pressure isolation with an N95 respirator is the appropriate protection.