What best describes contact precautions?

Contact precautions are specifically designed to prevent the transmission of infectious agents through direct or indirect contact. This means implementing strategies to minimize the spread of pathogens that can be transferred via skin-to-skin contact or through contaminated surfaces and objects.

For instance, when caring for a patient who has an infection that can be spread through contact, healthcare workers will wear gloves and gowns when interacting with the patient or their environment. This prevents the pathogens from spreading to other patients, staff, or surfaces within the healthcare setting.

The other options describe different modes of transmission or specific scenarios that do not accurately reflect the broader scope of contact precautions. Airborne transmission refers to pathogens that are spread through tiny droplets that remain in the air for long periods, which is not within the realm of contact precautions. Isolating individuals with digestive illnesses may apply to certain pathogens but does not encompass the complete guidelines of contact precautions. Limiting patient interactions is more related to general isolation practices rather than the specific measures taken to prevent contact transmission.