Which safety equipment is essential for protecting against droplets or airborne pathogens when a patient is coughing up blood?

The correct choice is a face shield because it provides comprehensive protection to the facial area, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, which are all potential entry points for pathogens. When a patient is coughing up blood, droplets can become aerosolized and pose a risk of transmission of infectious agents. A face shield serves as a barrier, protecting healthcare personnel from direct exposure to these droplets.

Face shields are particularly important in situations where there is a risk of splashes or sprays, which can occur when dealing with blood or other potentially infectious materials. While other safety equipment such as masks, gloves, and goggles also play important roles in infection control, a face shield specifically addresses the need for full facial coverage against droplets that might otherwise escape the protection of a mask alone.

Other options such as gloves protect the hands from contact with infectious materials, and goggles safeguard the eyes from splashes, but they do not cover the entire face and therefore do not provide the same level of protection as a face shield in the context of droplet exposure. Masks are important for respiratory protection, but without a face shield, the eyes and face are still vulnerable to the risk of splash or droplet exposure.