Isolation Precautions

[yk13]

I know that for airborne precautions you wear a N95 mask, and for droplet precautions you wear a surgical mask. I was wondering are you supposed to wear a gown and gloves in addition to the N95/surgical mask for airborne/droplet precautions.

I have come across sources where it indicates that some airborne/droplet isolations require a gown/gloves, while other sources indicate a gown/gloves is not required, just the mask. Can anyone clarify?

[FL_Nurse92]

Where I work, it is just the mask....I wear gloves regardless of isolation precautions and sometimes even a surgical mask.

[Flnolegirl]

I believe it's gown / gloves if u will do direct patient care.....Iike fl nurse 92 said always wear gloves.

[chare]

The components of transmission based precautions are relatively straight forward. From the 2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings, beginning on p. 69:

III.B.1. Contact Precautions: …wear a gown and gloves for all interactions that may involve contact with the patient or potentially contaminated areas in the patient's environment.

III.B.2. Droplet Precautions: …wear a mask (a respirator is not necessary) for close contact with infectious patient; the mask is generally donned upon room entry.

III.B.3. Airborne Precautions: …wear a mask or respirator, depending on the disease-specific recommendations (Respiratory Protection II.E.4, Table 2, and Appendix A), that is donned prior to room entry.

Where it gets confusing is that some require use more than one precaution type. For example, adenovirus is contact and droplet. Another confusing component is this. Required precautions might vary for a particular condition based upon presentation. For example, extrapulmonary tuberculosis with draining lesions requires airborne and contact; without draining lesions it is airborne only. Another consideration is the specific unit practice. At my last facility we placed all patients requiring droplet precautions on contact precautions as well.

If you ever have doubt refer to your facility's infection control policies and procedures. If you are unable to locate required precautions in these, the 2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings another option, as most facilities base their requirements on those contained here.