When a diagnosis of chickenpox is made, the appropriate type of precautions to implement are airborne precautions. Chickenpox, caused by the varicella-zoster virus, is highly contagious and can be transmitted through the air via respiratory droplets. These droplets can remain suspended in the air and can be inhaled by individuals who are in the vicinity of an infected person, even after the person has left the area.
Airborne precautions are designed to prevent the spread of infections that are transmitted through the air, requiring the use of a special mask (such as an N95 respirator) for healthcare workers and ensuring that the infected individual is placed in a negative pressure room to minimize air contamination. This is crucial because even a brief exposure to someone with chickenpox can lead to infection in those who are not immune.
While contact precautions and droplet precautions may be used for other infections, they do not adequately address the airborne transmission nature of chickenpox. Universal precautions are more general and may not specifically account for the respiratory spread of airborne infections. Therefore, airborne precautions are the appropriate and effective means of preventing further transmission of chickenpox in healthcare settings.