Which action best supports infection control when a patient has a contagious illness?

• A. Implement transmission-based precautions appropriate for the illness, limit exposure, protect staff and other patients, and sanitize the area.
• B. Ignore isolation guidelines to improve patient comfort.
• C. Reuse PPE between patients to save costs.
• D. Only mask the patient and continue as usual.

Answer: (A)

Infection control hinges on using transmission-based precautions that match how the illness spreads. The best action is to implement the appropriate precautions for the illness (such as contact, droplet, or airborne precautions), limit exposure to others, protect staff and other patients with proper PPE, and thoroughly sanitize the room and equipment. This approach stops the pathways pathogens use to move from the patient to people and surfaces, reducing risk across the unit.

Ignoring isolation guidelines jeopardizes safety and doesn’t meet standard care expectations. Reusing PPE between patients breaks the essential barrier that protects both staff and other patients. Masking only the patient and continuing as usual fails to address how the illness can spread through hands, surfaces, and staff if proper precautions aren’t in place.