What infection control precautions are necessary when transporting a patient with an airborne infectious disease?

What infection control precautions are necessary when transporting a patient with an airborne infectious disease?

• A. PPE kit with no eye protection
• B. Gloves only
• C. Appropriate PPE (N95, gloves, gown, eye protection), hand hygiene, minimize aerosol-generating procedures, and thorough surface decontamination
• D. No hand hygiene required

Answer: (C)

Infection control during transport of a patient with an airborne infectious disease hinges on protecting the healthcare worker from inhaling aerosols and from contact with contaminated surfaces. The best approach combines appropriate PPE—an N95 respirator, gloves, gown, and eye protection—with strict hand hygiene. These barriers protect the respiratory tract, skin, and mucous membranes from both droplets and aerosols. Pairing that with efforts to minimize aerosol-generating procedures reduces the amount of infectious particles released into the surrounding environment during transport. After the patient is moved, thorough surface decontamination eliminates residual contamination that could be picked up and carried elsewhere. Using PPE that lacks eye protection leaves the mucous membranes of the eyes exposed to infectious particles; gloves alone provide insufficient barrier against respiratory droplets and surface contamination; and neglecting hand hygiene or surface decontamination increases the chance of transmission.

Infection control during transport of a patient with an airborne infectious disease hinges on protecting the healthcare worker from inhaling aerosols and from contact with contaminated surfaces. The best approach combines appropriate PPE—an N95 respirator, gloves, gown, and eye protection—with strict hand hygiene. These barriers protect the respiratory tract, skin, and mucous membranes from both droplets and aerosols. Pairing that with efforts to minimize aerosol-generating procedures reduces the amount of infectious particles released into the surrounding environment during transport. After the patient is moved, thorough surface decontamination eliminates residual contamination that could be picked up and carried elsewhere.

Using PPE that lacks eye protection leaves the mucous membranes of the eyes exposed to infectious particles; gloves alone provide insufficient barrier against respiratory droplets and surface contamination; and neglecting hand hygiene or surface decontamination increases the chance of transmission.