What do airborne precautions aim to prevent?

Airborne precautions are specifically designed to prevent the transmission of infectious pathogens that spread through the air via respiratory droplets or aerosol particles. These pathogens can linger in the air and be inhaled by individuals who are nearby, making it critical to implement measures that minimize this risk.

Airborne precautions involve several strategies, such as using specialized surgical masks or respirators, ensuring proper ventilation in the environment, and isolating patients with airborne-transmissible infections. This is particularly important for diseases like tuberculosis, measles, and varicella, which can be transmitted simply by breathing in contaminated air.

The other options pertain to different modes of transmission. Exposure to bodily fluids relates to droplet or contact precautions, contact with contaminated surfaces focuses on sanitization and hygiene practices, and transmission through food or water pertains to gastrointestinal infections, which are addressed through food safety measures rather than airborne precautions.