The three types of transmission-based precautions are contact precautions and droplet precautions

Transmission-based precautions are an essential component of infection control measures used in healthcare settings. They are employed in addition to standard precautions when dealing with patients who have known or suspected infections that require extra measures to prevent the spread of the infectious agent. The three types of transmission-based precautions are:

1. Contact Precautions: These precautions are implemented for patients who are infected or colonized by microorganisms that can be easily transmitted by direct or indirect contact. They involve the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and gowns when entering the patient's room or when in contact with the patient or their immediate environment. Examples of conditions that require contact precautions include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection, Clostridium difficile infection, and certain types of viral infections.

2. Droplet Precautions: Droplet precautions are used for patients who have respiratory infections caused by pathogens that are transmitted through respiratory droplets generated when the person coughs, sneezes, talks, or performs certain medical procedures. Healthcare workers wear a surgical mask when entering the patient's room and maintain a distance of at least three feet from the patient. Examples of conditions that require droplet precautions include influenza, pertussis, and meningococcal meningitis.

3. Airborne Precautions: These precautions are employed for patients with infections caused by pathogens that are spread through small respiratory droplets that can remain suspended in the air for long periods and can be inhaled by others. Airborne precautions require the use of special respiratory protection, such as N95 respirators, along with other PPE like gowns and gloves. Additionally, patients should be placed in negative pressure isolation rooms to prevent the spread of the infectious agent to other areas. Examples of conditions that require airborne precautions include tuberculosis, measles, and chickenpox.