A patient has been admitted with a diagnosis of whooping cough. What precautions should be initiated with this patient?

• A. Droplet
• B. Airborne with negative pressure room
• C. Contact
• D. Standard precautions only

Answer: (A)

Pertussis spreads mainly through respiratory droplets produced when the patient coughs or sneezes. To block this exposure, you initiate droplet precautions. That involves placing the patient in a private room if possible, and having healthcare workers wear a surgical mask when they are within about 3 feet of the patient. The patient should wear a mask when moved out of the room. Emphasize hand hygiene and standard precautions, and use gloves or gowns if there is contact with secretions. Airborne precautions with a negative-pressure room aren’t needed because pertussis is not primarily spread via small aerosol particles. Standard precautions alone wouldn’t be enough since the droplet route is the main risk.