Infection Prevention and Control Poster - Airborne precautions poster

Airborne precautions, in addition to standard precautions, are used to prevent transmission of infectious agents that are disseminated through airborne droplet nuclei and remain infective over time and distance. These agents may be inhaled by individuals who have not had face-to-face contact with, or been in the same room as, the infectious individual. Airborne droplet nuclei can also be generated through aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs), such as intubation, suctioning, bronchoscopy, or the use of nebulisers.

Airborne precautions are based on evidence that shows that:

• The use of particulate filter respirators (PFR), such as P2 or N95, prevents the inhalation of small particles that may contain infectious agents transmitted via the airborne route
• The use of negative pressure rooms may reduce the transmission of infection
• The wearing of correctly fitted surgical masks by coughing patients prevents dispersal of respiratory secretions into the air.

The key elements of applying airborne precautions are:

• Use of appropriate personal protective equipment, particularly correctly fitted particulate filter respirators (PFRs), such as P2 and N95
• Patient placement (e.g. use of negative pressure rooms)
• Minimising patient movement.

(Source: Section 3.2.4 Airborne precautions, Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare)