What type of precautions are required for a patient with tuberculosis (TB)?

For a patient with tuberculosis (TB), Airborne Precautions are required because TB is caused by a bacterium that is primarily spread through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. The infectious droplets can remain suspended in the air for a considerable period, posing a risk to individuals who inhale them.

Airborne Precautions are specifically designed to prevent the spread of such pathogens. This includes placing the patient in a negative-pressure room, where the air pressure is lower inside the room than outside, thus preventing airborne contaminants from escaping into the surrounding environment. Healthcare workers and visitors are typically required to wear N95 respirators or equivalent masks to provide an additional level of protection by filtering small particles from the air.

This focus on airborne transmission distinguishes it from other types of precautions. For instance, Contact Precautions are typically used for infections spread through direct or indirect contact, while Droplet Precautions are utilized for pathogens spread through larger respiratory droplets that do not remain suspended in the air. Standard Precautions are the foundational practices for preventing the spread of infection, but they are not specific to TB, as they apply to all patients to reduce the risk of any transmission. Therefore, the use of Airborne Precautions for patients with TB is