What precaution should be added for contact transmission?

When considering precautions for contact transmission, the emphasis is on preventing the transmission of infectious agents through direct or indirect contact with the patient or their environment. An impermeable gown serves as an effective barrier, protecting the skin and clothing from potentially infectious material. This is particularly crucial in settings where there is a risk of contamination from bodily fluids or other infectious substances that may be present during patient care.

Wearing an impermeable gown helps to minimize the likelihood of spreading infection to healthcare providers and others in the vicinity, especially in cases where patients may have open wounds or infections that can be transmitted through direct contact. This precaution is vital for maintaining infection control standards in healthcare settings, thus protecting both staff and patients.

In contrast, while nitrile gloves and hand sanitizer are important for preventing contact transmission, they address different aspects of the infection control process—gloves primarily provide a barrier for hand contact, while hand sanitizer aids in hand hygiene post-contact. A manual blood pressure cuff does not inherently provide a protective barrier and can also be a source of cross-contamination if not properly disinfected between uses.