Final answer:
Protection from a coughing pneumonia patient can be achieved through wearing face masks, maintaining a safe distance, and adhering to hygiene practices, including proper hand hygiene. Additionally, patients who smoke present an elevated risk, thus warranting extra caution.
Step-by-step explanation:
While taking care of a patient with pneumonia, there are several precautions you could have taken to prevent the patient from coughing in your face. For instance, because diseases like pneumonia can be airborne, wearing protective gear such as face masks is critical. A mask can prevent any spittle from getting into your mouth, nose, or eyes, thereby reducing the risk of infection.
Moreover, maintaining an appropriate distance when the patient is coughing can also help. This is especially important because pneumonia can be caused by a variety of pathogens- bacteria like Streptococcus pneumoniae, viruses, or fungi. If the patient is a smoker like Camila, the risk of developing pneumonia is higher due to impaired lung defenses. In such cases, extra caution is advised.
Finally, complying with standard hand hygiene practices before and after contact with a patient, using gloves when necessary, and following other best practices for infection control within healthcare settings is vital.
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