Safety & Infection ControlQuestion 39 of 100
Droplet precautions are used for organisms spread by respiratory droplets. How far do these large droplets typically travel?
a.Up to 20 feet
b.Through a building's ventilation system
c.About 3 to 6 feet
d.They do not travel through the air at all
Explanation
Large respiratory droplets generally travel about 3 to 6 feet before falling, so droplet precautions require a surgical mask when within this distance of the patient. Examples include influenza and pertussis. Unlike airborne particles, droplets do not remain suspended in the air over long distances.
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