How do Enhanced Barrier Precautions differ from other transmission-based precautions?

• A. Gown and gloves are required only during high-contact care.
• B. Gown and gloves are required for all patient contact.
• C. No gloves are ever required.
• D. Only eye protection is required.

Answer: (A)

Enhanced Barrier Precautions protect staff by focusing PPE use on the moments with the highest risk of transmission. Gown and gloves are worn for high-contact care—activities that involve close contact with the patient or their environment—while routine, low-contact interactions may not require those barriers. This risk-based approach differs from practices that require gown and gloves for all patient contact, and it helps conserve PPE while still guarding against transmission during the riskiest tasks. Eye protection and other PPE are added as needed for the specific activity or organism, but the key idea is that gowns and gloves are required during high-contact care, not every interaction.