Question

1. Describe the difference between droplet and airborne precautions. Discuss the protective equipment which must be used when imaging patients on droplet or airborne precautions. Give one example of a disease or condition which would place a patient on airborne precautions and one example for droplet precautions (3 points).

Answer 1

Ans) Airborne Isolation Precautions:

- Airborne precautions are used when you have a lung or throat infection or virus, such as chicken pox or tuberculosis, that can be spread via tiny droplets in the air from mouth or nose.

- These germs may stay suspended in the air and can spread to others. One of the precautions that may be taken is called "airborne isolation."

- This means the room will have negative air pressure. When the door to hospital room is open, air flows into the room but won't flow out of the room into the hall.

When these precautions are in place, the hospital staff will:

Clean hands between tasks and upon entering and exiting your hospital room
Place a sign on your room door to let staff know what do do.
Close the door to your room.
For Patients:
Clean hands frequently, especially after coughing and sneezing.
Keep room door closed at all times.
Be sure visitors read the sign on your door.
Leave your room only when medically necessary and wear a mask when you do.
Limit visitors to a few family members and friends who have immunity to your illness.
For Visitors:
Clean hands when entering and exiting patient's room.
Confirm that you have been vaccinated or have had the patient's disease to develop immunity.
Go to the nurse's station, if you have any questions.

Example of airborne infection: Anthrax (inhalational), Chickenpox, Influenza, Measles, Smallpox, Cryptococcosis, and Tuberculosis.

Droplet precautions:

- It is used when germs in the lungs or throat, such as those caused by the flu, that can spread by droplets from the mouth or nose when you speak, sneeze or cough as well as when people touch the surfaces around.

When these precautions are in place, the staff will:

Clean hands frequently
Put a sign on your door to let staff know what to do.
Wear a mask and eye protection.
Place masks outside your door for use by hospital staff and visitors.
For Patients:
Clean hands frequently, especially after coughing and sneezing.
Be sure visitors entering your room have read the sign on your door.
Leave your room only when medically necessary and wear a mask when you do.
Limit visitors to a few family members and friends. Brothers and sisters of pediatric patients on droplet precautions are discouraged from visiting and may not visit communal areas such as the playroom.
For Visitors:
Clean hands upon entering and exiting your room.
Wear a mask and eye protection before entering the room and while visiting.
Go to the nurse's station, if you have any questions.

Example: Common cold, Diphtheria, Fifth disease (erythema infectiosum), Influenza, Meningitis, Mycoplasma, Mumps, Pertussis (whooping cough), Plague, Rubella, Strep (strep throat, scarlet fever, pneumonia).