Question

What additional precautions should Elaine and Sally use if they need to provide care to a person with an infectious respiratory disease

Answer 1

The Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are the barriers and respirators used to protect the body and clothing from contact with the infectious agents.

The four examples of PPE include,

1. Goggles – Must be worn if the procedures generate splashes of blood or any other body fluids or excretions.
2. Face shields – Protect the non-intact skin of the face from the droplets or spatters. The mucus membranes of the nose and mouth can be protected from the droplets by the masks
3. Fluid-resistant gowns – Protect the full body and prevent the contaminants (body fluids or spills) from contaminating the skin or clothing.
4. Masks and respirators – They prevent the entry of pathogens through the inhalation route. The efficiency of filters used in these PPEs is set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and should be certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). They are called N95 masks or respirators (indicates that they can filter at least 95% of airborne particles).

Whenever providing direct care to the person with the infectious respiratory disease, face shields, masks, gowns, and respirators must be used to prevent the transmission of infection.