What infection control precaution is required for a patient diagnosed with tuberculosis?

Airborne precautions are essential for a patient diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) because the bacteria that cause TB, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, can be transmitted through the air. When an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, or even breathes, they release tiny respiratory droplets that can remain suspended in the air for long periods. These droplets can then be inhaled by others, leading to potential infection.

To effectively prevent the spread of TB, healthcare providers must implement airborne precautions, which include placing the patient in a negative pressure room, ensuring that staff and visitors wear specialized respiratory protection (such as N95 respirators), and limiting the movement of the patient outside of their room. This strategy aims to reduce the risk of airborne transmission and protect both healthcare staff and other patients within the facility.

In contrast, contact precautions are designed to prevent infections that spread through direct or indirect contact, while droplet precautions are meant for pathogens transmitted through respiratory droplets that do not remain airborne. Standard precautions apply to all patients regardless of their diagnosis but do not specifically address the airborne nature of TB transmission. Thus, airborne precautions are the most appropriate and effective means to control and prevent the spread of tuberculosis.