Standard and Transmission-Based Precautions Practice Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards defining key terms, diseases, and procedural requirements for Standard, Airborne, Droplet, and Contact Precautions.

Standard Precautions

A set of protocols including hand hygiene, PPE, environmental cleanliness, and sharps/biohazard waste management used in patient care situations.

Non-sterile examination gloves

The basic equipment required in all patient care situations under Standard Precautions.

Airborne Precautions

Precautions used for patients suspected of having serious illnesses transmitted by airborne droplet nuclei smaller than $5$ microns.

Airborne Droplet Nuclei

Infectious particles smaller than $5$ microns that remain suspended in the air and are the focus of Airborne Precautions.

Negative air pressure room

A private room for airborne isolation that has $6$ to $12$ air changes per hour and discharges air to the outside or through a filtration system.

N95 respirator

A respiratory device that must be worn when entering the room of a patient known or suspected of having primary tuberculosis.

Droplet Precautions

Precautions used for clients known or suspected to have serious illnesses transmitted by particle droplets larger than $5$ microns.

Droplet illness examples

Includes meningitis, pneumonia, epiglottitis, sepsis, diphtheria, pertussis, streptococcal pharyngitis, influenza, mumps, Ebola, and rubella.

Contact Precautions

Precautions used for clients with illnesses transmitted by direct contact or by contact with items in the client’s environment.

Contact illness examples

Includes gastrointestinal, respiratory, skin, or wound infections, Escherichia coli, Herpes simplex virus, Ebola, and major abscesses.

Respiratory Hygiene/Cough Etiquette

A procedure to be followed by patients on Droplet Precautions when they are being transported outside of their room.

Antimicrobial agent

A substance used for washing hands immediately after removing gloves under Contact Precautions.

Puncture-resistant containers

Specialized containers used for the safe disposal of sharps as part of Standard Precautions.

Chemical germicide

A substance used for the decontamination of surfaces and equipment in a medical environment.

Airborne illness examples

Includes measles, varicella (including disseminated zoster), and tuberculosis.