Final answer:
Healthcare workers dialyzing patients with active tuberculosis must wear gloves, masks, and gowns to prevent transmission of the disease. This complete set of personal protective equipment is necessary because TB is an airborne pathogen requiring biosafety level 3 precautions.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of healthcare workers managing patients with active tuberculosis (TB), the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is critical to prevent transmission. Staff who are involved in the dialysis of such patients should wear gloves to protect their hands, a mask to prevent inhalation of infectious agents, and a gown to protect their clothing and skin from becoming contaminated. Given that TB is an airborne pathogen and can be particularly dangerous in healthcare settings, these precautions align with the principles of infection control and the guidelines for working with biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) pathogens.
In BSL-3 laboratories, which handle agents like Mycobacterium tuberculosis, workers are required to implement stringent safety measures. This includes wearing PPE such as protective coats, face protection, cut-resistant gloves, and respirators. It is also important to work within biological safety cabinets whenever possible, to prevent the spread of infections.
Therefore, the answer to the question is: 4) All of the above – staff must wear gloves, masks, and gowns when dialyzing patients with active TB to ensure comprehensive protection.