Final answer:
Contact precautions are used for contact with infectious skin or contaminated surfaces to prevent the spread of infections like athlete's foot and warts. Hand washing is crucial for preventing these transmissions because microbes can live on various surfaces. The correct option is c).
Step-by-step explanation:
Contact precautions are typically used for c) Contact with infectious skin or contaminated surfaces. This includes scenarios where people might have skin-to-skin contact or touch objects that have been in contact with an infected person's secretions or lesions.
Some pathogens can spread through direct oral contact as well, which can occur by kissing or sharing drinking glasses or utensils. It's essential to maintain good hygiene practices, such as frequent hand washing, to minimize the risk of transmission in these cases.
Hand washing is a crucial preventive measure because microbes can live on surfaces like doorknobs and money, spreading through direct contact. Contact precautions help prevent the spread of infections such as athlete's foot, warts, mononucleosis, and oral herpes. Option c) is the correct one.