A medical assistant must enter the room of a patient with confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis. Which personal protective equipment set is most appropriate before entry?
Answer choices
- ASurgical mask only
- BExam gloves only
- CFace shield without respiratory protection
- DFit-tested N95 respirator, gown, gloves, and eye protection as required
About this question
Which PPE do you wear before entering a room with confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis? CCMA infection-control items separate airborne diseases from droplet and contact precautions. Choosing a surgical mask for TB is a classic exam mistake. Read the wording and clinical context closely; those details determine the NHA CCMA competency being tested.
This scenario asks for the appropriate PPE set before entry. Active pulmonary TB requires airborne precautions with a fit-tested N95 (or equivalent) respirator, plus gown, gloves, and eye protection as facility policy indicates. A plain surgical mask does not filter droplet nuclei the way a respirator does. Pair PPE with closed-door / negative-pressure thinking when the stem mentions isolation rooms. For tuberculosis airborne precautions n95 ppe, explain why the tempting distractor belongs to a different procedure, role, or setting.
Reveal answer & explanationShow
Correct answer
- ASurgical mask only
- BExam gloves only
- CFace shield without respiratory protection
- DFit-tested N95 respirator, gown, gloves, and eye protection as requiredCorrect
Basic rationale
Airborne isolation for tuberculosis requires an N95 respirator or higher-level respiratory protection plus gown, gloves, and eye protection as indicated by facility policy.
Option explanations
- A: Does not provide adequate protection against airborne tuberculosis.
- B: Hand protection does not prevent inhalation of airborne organisms.
- C: Eye protection alone does not filter inhaled airborne particles.
- D: Correct. Airborne precautions require respiratory protection and appropriate contact barriers.
Deep Analysis
Core logic
Tuberculosis spreads by airborne droplet nuclei. Standard precautions alone are insufficient; airborne precautions add fit-tested respiratory protection and contact barriers.
Distractor analysis
A: Incorrect because a surgical mask does not provide adequate filtration for airborne pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. B: Incorrect because gloves alone do not protect against inhalation of airborne particles. C: Incorrect because a face shield without respiratory protection does not address airborne transmission.
Exam trap
Learners often choose surgical masks for any respiratory illness instead of matching PPE to transmission route.
Memory tip
TB means airborne, and airborne means N95 plus barriers.
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