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Clarification on mask use during droplet precautions
Author(s) -
Steele Amy
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
aorn journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.222
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1878-0369
pISSN - 0001-2092
DOI - 10.1016/j.aorn.2011.04.013
Subject(s) - medicine
2 I am writing in reference to the Clinical Issues response on the topic of “Implementing droplet precautions” (January 2011, Vol 93, No 1). Near the end of the response was the statement, “For a patient with Staphylococcus aureus in the nares, the health care provider or visitor should place a mask on his or her face within 4 feet of the patient.” The 2007 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) document Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings is cited as the source of the information for the response. However, it is concerning that the information was not applied correctly in response to the droplet precautions question in distinguishing S aureus colonization from active infection. In Appendix A of the CDC document, “Type and duration of precautions recommended for selected infections and conditions,” S aureus is listed as requiring standard precautions. Other portions of the document state the following: