A nurse is caring for an infant who has pertussis. Which of the following precautions should the nurse implement?
A.
Airborne.
B.
Droplet.
C.
Standard.
D.
Neutropenic.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is B. Droplet.
Explanation:
Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. The primary mode of transmission for pertussis is through respiratory droplets that are expelled when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Given this mode of transmission, the appropriate precaution to implement in the care of an infant with pertussis is droplet precaution.
Droplet Precautions are designed to protect against pathogens that are spread through large respiratory droplets, which can travel a short distance (usually less than 3 feet) and are capable of reaching the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, or eyes. This form of precaution is critical for infections that are transmitted by droplets generated by coughing, sneezing, or talking, such as pertussis.
Key Components of Droplet Precautions:
- Wear a Mask: Healthcare providers should wear a surgical mask when within close proximity (usually within 3 feet) of the infected individual to prevent inhalation of respiratory droplets.
- Patient Masking: If the patient is old enough and able, they should wear a mask to reduce the risk of spreading droplets to others.
- Good Hand Hygiene: Proper hand washing or use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers before and after patient contact is essential.
- Room Placement: Ideally, patients should be placed in a private room, or if not possible, at least 3 feet away from other patients. The room door can remain open.
Why Not Other Precautions?
- Airborne Precautions (A): These are used for diseases that are spread through airborne particles that can remain suspended in the air for longer distances and times, such as tuberculosis or measles. Pertussis does not fit this transmission mode.
- Standard Precautions (C): While standard precautions are fundamental in all patient care and include hand hygiene and use of personal protective equipment, they are not specific enough for diseases like pertussis that require droplet precautions.
- Neutropenic Precautions (D): These precautions are used for patients with compromised immune systems to protect them from infection, not for protecting others from infectious diseases.
Implementing droplet precautions effectively helps to minimize the risk of pertussis spreading within healthcare settings and to other patients.