Question

In which of the following cases should an N95 respirator be used?

a) Always
b) With patients on chemotherapy
c) With all patients who have infectious diseases
d) With patients who have known or suspected tuberculosis

Answer 1

An N95 respirator should be used (d) with patients who have known or suspected tuberculosis to prevent transmission of the disease, as TB is highly infectious and can be transmitted through the air.

Step-by-step explanation:

An N95 respirator should be used in case d) With patients who have known or suspected tuberculosis. Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and can be highly infectious, particularly in its active form. An N95 respirator is specifically designed to filter out particles as small as the TB bacteria to prevent transmission through the air.

In situations where patients are known or suspected to have TB, healthcare workers wear these respirators to protect themselves and prevent the spread of the disease. While N95 respirators are also used in other settings, including those with patients on chemotherapy, they are a crucial part of the personal protective equipment in managing TB due to the respiratory transmission of TB bacteria.