Transmission-Based Precautions: Airborne

When to use airborne precautions

Some germs can float through the air on tiny particles. They can stay in the air for a long time and travel long distances. Use airborne precautions with patients known or suspected to be infected with any of the following:

• Active tuberculosis

• Measles

• Varicella (chickenpox) or wherever a patient has a vesicular rash of unknown origin

• Ebola

• Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

• Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19)

How to use airborne precautions

The patient should be placed in a private room with a private bathroom and special air handling. If this can’t be done, check with your facility’s infection control department. Also:

• Wear approved respiratory protection when in the patient’s room if the patient is suspected of having any infection that can be transmitted through air.

• Put on respiratory protection (NIOSH-approved N95 or higher respirator) before entering a restricted room. Take it off only after leaving the room. Visitors must also wear protection.

• If there is the possibility of respiratory fluids being sprayed, wear a gown, gloves, and goggles or face shield.

• Perform meticulous hand hygiene before and after coming into contact with the patient, the patient's respiratory secretions or body fluids, or contaminated items.

• Change your face mask if it becomes soiled. Dispose of it in a plastic bag and then in the trash.

• Keep the room’s doors and windows closed at all times.

• Allow only essential people (as defined by your facility) to enter the room.

• Choose disposable or specifically assigned equipment for patient care.

• In situations where using equipment for multiple patients is necessary, make sure to thoroughly clean and disinfect the equipment before using it on a different patient.

• Teach the patient to cough and sneeze into tissues and dispose of them correctly.

• Transport the patient only when you absolutely must. Have the patient wear a correct mask and practice respiratory hygiene. Alert the receiving department.

Fit-check your respirator mask each time you wear it to be sure that air leaks don't expose you to infection.

Protecting yourself with a respirator

• Wear the respirator approved by your facility.

• Ask whether the respirator needs to be fit-tested before you first wear it. This test makes sure that the respirator mask fits right.

• Check the fit of the respirator every time you put it on. You will be shown how to do a fit check.

• Put the respirator on before entering a restricted room. Take it off only after leaving the room.

• Each respirator should be used by one person only and should not be shared.