Transmission-based precautions
are additional infection control precautions in
health care, and the latest routine infection prevention and
control practices applied for patients who are known or suspected
to be infected or colonized with infectious agents, including
certain epidemiologically important pathogens.
Use Airborne Precautions for patients known or
suspected to be infected with pathogens transmitted by the airborne
route (e.g., tuberculosis, measles, chickenpox,
disseminated herpes zoster)
- Source control: put a mask on the
patient.
- Ensure appropriate patient placement in an airborne
infection isolation room (AIIR) constructed according to
the Guideline for Isolation Precautions. In settings where Airborne
Precautions cannot be implemented due to limited engineering
resources, masking the patient and placing the patient in a private
room with the door closed will reduce the likelihood of airborne
transmission until the patient is either transferred to a facility
with an AIIR or returned home.
- Restrict susceptible healthcare personnel from entering
the room of patients known or suspected to have measles,
chickenpox, disseminated zoster, or smallpox if other immune
healthcare personnel are available.
- Use personal protective equipment (PPE)
appropriately, including a fit-tested NIOSH-approved N95
or higher level respirator for healthcare personnel.
- Limit transport and movement of patients
outside of the room to medically-necessary purposes. If transport
or movement outside an AIIR is necessary, instruct patients to wear
a surgical mask, if possible, and observe Respiratory Hygiene/Cough
Etiquette. Healthcare personnel transporting patients who are on
Airborne Precautions do not need to wear a mask or respirator
during transport if the patient is wearing a mask and infectious
skin lesions are covered.
- Immunize susceptible persons as soon as possible
following unprotected contact with vaccine-preventable
infections (e.g., measles, varicella or smallpox).