What are Transmission-Based Precautions primarily designed for?

Transmission-Based Precautions are specifically designed to protect healthcare workers and other patients from known or suspected highly transmissible pathogens. These are additional safety measures taken beyond standard precautions when a patient is diagnosed or suspected to have an infectious disease that can spread easily.

For example, if a patient has been identified as carrying a pathogen that is airborne, droplet, or contact-transmissible, Transmission-Based Precautions would include specialized personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, gloves, and gowns, as well as specific protocols for patient management and isolation.

This approach is essential in controlling the spread of infections and ensuring the safety of both healthcare workers and other patients in the facility. Routine checkups and minor infections do not typically pose the same level of risk that requires such measures, and while immunizations are important in preventing disease spread, they do not relate directly to the protocol designed for managing the transmission of existing infections.