A phlebotomist must take which transmission-based precaution when dealing with a patient diagnosed with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome?

In the case of a patient diagnosed with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), the appropriate transmission-based precaution is droplet precautions. SARS is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through close contact with respiratory secretions. This means that healthcare providers must wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as masks and face shields, to protect themselves from being exposed to droplets that can contain the virus.

Droplet precautions are specifically designed to prevent the spread of pathogens that are transmitted through respiratory droplets. This involves placing the patient in a private room, wearing masks when within close proximity, and ensuring that visitors also adhere to these precautions. Such measures help to significantly reduce the risk of airborne transmission, which would require different precautions.

While standard precautions are a baseline for all patient interactions and contact precautions may be necessary for other types of infections, they do not address the specific risks associated with respiratory droplets in the context of SARS. Thus, implementing droplet precautions is essential for ensuring the safety of both healthcare workers and other patients.