Final answer:
Healthcare professionals follow transmission-based precautions when a patient is known to have a particular infectious disease. These precautions are additional measures taken on top of standard precautions to prevent the transmission of specific pathogens.
Step-by-step explanation:
Healthcare professionals follow transmission-based precautions when a patient is known to have a particular infectious disease. These precautions are additional measures taken on top of standard precautions to prevent the transmission of specific pathogens. Standard precautions include hand hygiene, wearing gloves, and using personal protective equipment (PPE) when necessary. Transmission-based precautions are used when there is an increased risk of specific infections spreading, such as airborne, droplet, or contact transmission.