What is the purpose of contact precautions in infection control?

Contact precautions are a critical component of infection control protocols aimed at preventing the spread of infections that can be transmitted through direct or indirect contact with an infected individual or contaminated surfaces. These precautions are particularly important for infections that can be spread by touch, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Clostridium difficile, and other multidrug-resistant organisms.

When implementing contact precautions, healthcare providers wear protective equipment like gloves and gowns when interacting with patients who are known or suspected to be infected. This minimizes the risk of healthcare workers becoming infected themselves and prevents the transmission of pathogens to other patients or environments within healthcare settings.

The focus of contact precautions is squarely on interrupting the chain of infection by limiting contact points, thereby effectively reducing the incidence of healthcare-associated infections. In contrast, other options such as eliminating airborne pathogens or preventing food contamination address different modes of transmission and are handled through separate infection control measures. Similarly, enhancing patient mobility is not related to preventing the spread of infections and is more focused on patient care rather than infection control.