The PN wears gloves and gown when bathing a client, changing the client's bed linens, and placing the dirty bed linens in a biohazard labeled laundry bag kept inside the client's room. Which isolation precaution is the PN implementing?

• A. Airborne precautions
• B. Contact precautions
• C. Droplet precautions
• D. Protective isolation

Answer: (B)

Understanding when to apply contact precautions: this scenario relies on barrier protection because care involves direct contact with the patient and with items contaminated by the patient. Wearing a gown and gloves while bathing the patient and changing bed linens creates a physical barrier to prevent the transmission of infectious agents from skin and contaminated fabrics to the caregiver and the surrounding environment. Placing the dirty linens in a biohazard-labeled bag kept inside the room further limits spread by ensuring contaminated materials are contained and do not contaminate surfaces or other areas.

Airborne precautions would require a respirator and a negative-pressure room because they target transmission via tiny particles in the air. Droplet precautions rely on a mask (and sometimes eye protection) to protect against larger respiratory droplets within a short range. Protective isolation is used for patients who need protection from others due to severe immunocompromise, which isn’t the focus here.