What are transmission-based precautions used for?

Transmission-based precautions are specifically designed to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, which are infections that can be transmitted from one person to another. These precautions are vital in healthcare settings, particularly when caring for patients who are known or suspected to have contagious infections.

Implementing these precautions involves using specific measures based on how the disease spreads, which can include direct contact, droplet transmission, or airborne transmission. Examples include using personal protective equipment like gloves and masks, isolating patients, and ensuring proper sanitation measures. This approach effectively reduces the risk of transmission, protecting both healthcare providers and other patients in the facility.

The other options relate to different aspects of health care that do not focus specifically on the prevention of communicable diseases. Chronic illnesses are managed through treatment rather than transmission precautions, nutritional health is supported through diet and nutrition management, and preventing physical injuries involves safety protocols unrelated to the transmission of infections.