What is the recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) for droplet precautions?

The recommended personal protective equipment for droplet precautions is a surgical mask. Droplet precautions are implemented when there is a risk of transmitting infectious agents through respiratory droplets produced when a patient coughs, sneezes, speaks, or breathes. A surgical mask serves as a barrier to protect the healthcare worker from inhaling these droplets.

Surgical masks are designed to capture large respiratory droplets, helping to prevent them from reaching the mouth and nose of the healthcare worker. This is particularly important in settings where patients may be infected with diseases that can be transmitted through droplets, such as influenza or certain strains of COVID-19.

While other types of PPE, such as gowns, gloves, N95 respirators, and face shields, are necessary for other modes of transmission (like airborne pathogens or contact), they are not specifically required for droplet precautions. Using a surgical mask adequately protects against droplet transmission while ensuring that healthcare providers can still communicate effectively with their patients.