What are additional measures taken to prevent infection from specific pathogens called?

The term used to describe additional measures taken to prevent infection from specific pathogens is known as Transmission-Based Precautions. This protocol is designed to supplement Standard Precautions, which are the fundamental practices applied in healthcare settings to minimize the risk of infection transmission regardless of the patient’s infection status.

Transmission-Based Precautions are implemented when a patient is known or suspected to be infected with a communicable disease that can be spread through various routes, such as airborne, droplet, or contact transmission. This means that when such specific risks are identified, healthcare providers will use additional protective measures tailored to the mode of transmission in order to effectively reduce the risk of spreading the infection to other patients and staff.

These precautions often include the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), isolation of the patient, and specialized cleaning and disinfection protocols. This targeted approach is crucial for managing infections such as tuberculosis, influenza, and MRSA, which require specific control measures to ensure the safety of everyone in the healthcare environment.