Droplet precautions

Communicability Direct person-to-person transmission is rare. It may be communicable if pneumonia is present. When dealing with infected individuals, use standard contact precautions except in cases of pneumonia, then use droplet precautions. 

Isolation Procedures Once a victim of chemical or biological agents or weapons gets to the hospital or another healthcare facility, that person may have to abide by patient isolation procedures. These include Standard Precautions, Airborne Precautions, Droplet Precautions, and Contact Precautions. These precautions are spelled out in the third edition of Medical Management Of Biological Casualties Handbook published by the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Disease located at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Maryland. 

Droplet Precautions Standard Precautions plus Place the patient in a private room or with someone with the same infection if possible. Use gloves when entering the room. If not feasible, maintain at least three feet of space between patients. Use a mask when working within three feet of the patient. Limit movement and transport of the patient, and use a mask on the patient if they need to be moved. 

Isolation Precautions for Pneumonic Plague Standard precautions for all aspect of care including droplet precautions and strict hand washing with antimicrobial soap. 

Post-Mortem Care with Pneumonic Plague Follow Standard Precautions droplet precautions and disinfect surfaces with 1 9 bleach/water solution (10 percent). 

If meningitis is suspected in a patient with flaccid paralysis, medical personnel should use droplet precautions... 

Botulinum toxin is extremely poisonous to humans. Coats, gloves, face shields, and protective cabinets are recommended for handling botulism specimens. Ideally, laboratory personnel should be vaccinated with C. botulinum antitoxin. Universal precautions should be used when caring for patients suspected of botulism. Isolation is not necessary but droplet precautions should be instituted (Arnon et al., 2001). 

Pulmonary Dyspnea CNS Cranial nerve deficits are universal Descending symmetric paralysis Gastrointestinal Constipation (later in course) OTHER FORMS OF BOTULISM ISOLATION/DECON PRECAUTIONS Droplet precautions Extensive precautions for laboratory personnel VACCINE Botulinum toxoid vaccine available but restricted in use to military and laboratory personnel. POSTEXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS None... 

Painfui, fiuctuant sweiiings (buboes) in groin, axiilae, and cervical areas fever, bacteremia ISOLATION/DECONTAMINATION PRECAUTIONS Respiratory droplet precautions... 

Biothreat diseases requiring droplet precautions pneumonic plague. 

Close contacts of confirmed cases that have received less than 48 h of antibiotic therapy should wear masks and follow droplet precautions (gowns, gloves, and eye protection) (23). In addition, people should avoid unnecessary close contact until cases receive at least 48h of antibiotic therapy and exhibit some chnical improvement (23). 

In the hospital or other health care setting, patient care requires standard precautions. Botulism patients do not require isolation, although before definitive diagnosis, those with flaccid paralysis suspected as having meningitis require droplet precautions (36). 

In either a hospital or outpatient setting, place patients suspected of having VHP in a private room and initiate standard, contact, and droplet precautions. The CDC Web site has a description of these precautions at http //www.cdc. gov/ncidod/dhqp/gl isolation.html. 

Plague 100-500 organisms Blood, sputum, lymph node aspirate Gram or Wright-Giemsa stain, Ag-ELISA, Culture, Serology ELISA, IF A Pneumonic droplet precautions until patient treated for 3 d... 

The client should be placed on contact and possibly droplet precautions. Airborne isolation is required for tuberculosis. 

Droplet precautions are used for respiratory illnesses where transmission can occur when in close contact with the client. Botulism is not transmitted from human to human. 

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