Final answer:
Airborne Precautions are necessary when a patient has an infection that can spread through the air via droplets or aerosols from an infected individual, such as the flu or common cold. Healthcare providers must use personal protective equipment and isolation rooms as precautions against these infectious agents.
Step-by-step explanation:
Airborne Precautions are used if a patient has an infection that is transmitted through the air, often via droplets or aerosols emitted from an infected person when they cough, sneeze, or talk. Diseases that are commonly known to spread through airborne transmission include influenza (the flu), the common cold, and other pathogens with potential for aerosol transmission and associated with human disease, such as bacteria introduced via contaminated medical equipment. High-risk environments may include exposure to infected birds or via the birth canal during delivery.
It is important for healthcare providers to follow strict precautions to prevent the spread of these infections within healthcare settings. This includes the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as N95 respirators, to protect against inhalation of infectious particles. Patients who are contagious via airborne transmission may also be placed in specialized isolation rooms that control air flow to minimize the risk of spreading the infection to others.