What protective equipment and precautions are required when suctioning a client with active tuberculosis?

• A. N95 respirator, gown, gloves, and goggles; airborne precautions
• B. Surgical mask only; droplet precautions
• C. Face shield only; contact precautions
• D. No special precautions

Answer: (B)

Active tuberculosis spreads through the air via tiny aerosols that can be generated during suctioning, so this is an airborne-transmission risk. To protect both staff and other patients, you must use airborne precautions. The appropriate protection includes a well-fitted N95 respirator (or higher-level respirator), gown, gloves, and eye protection (goggles or a face shield), and it’s best done in a negative-pressure room if available. A surgical mask cannot filter the small aerosol particles that TB bacteria travel in, so relying on a mask alone or on droplet precautions is not sufficient. Wearing only a face shield or no special precautions would leave you vulnerable to inhaling infectious aerosols. Remember to follow proper donning and doffing procedures and perform good hand hygiene.