For a patient with pharyngeal diphtheria, what type of transmission precaution should be initiated?

The appropriate transmission precaution for a patient with pharyngeal diphtheria is droplet precautions. Diphtheria is caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae, which can be spread through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Therefore, to reduce the risk of transmission, it is essential to wear appropriate personal protective equipment, such as masks, when in close contact with the patient.

Droplet precautions focus on preventing the spread of infections that are transmitted through large respiratory droplets. This is essential for protecting both healthcare workers and other patients within the care environment.

Contact precautions would be more suitable for infections that are spread via direct or indirect contact with an infected person or their environment, such as certain skin infections. Airborne precautions are necessary for infections that can be spread through smaller droplets that remain suspended in the air over distances, such as tuberculosis or measles. Standard precautions are general practices that apply to all patients regardless of infection status and do not address specific transmission routes like diphtheria.

Therefore, implementing droplet precautions is vital to controlling the spread of pharyngeal diphtheria effectively.