Airborne precautions

Designed to reduce the risk of airborne infectious agents. Airborne droplets (nuclei) are less than 5 microns in size and contain microorganisms that are infectious through the respiratory route. These tiny droplets are small enough to easily float in air currents allowing the organisms to spread easily and travel significant distances. An N95, P2, or higher level respirator should be worn when entering the patients room and not removed until after leaving. Special air handling, negative pressure conditions with external exhaust are required. Infections requiring airborne precautions include measles, legionella, disseminated herpes, or Varicella zoster, avian flu, SARS, smallpox, and chicken pox (if caregiver is not immune).