Which condition would necessitate the use of droplet precautions in a healthcare setting?

The use of droplet precautions in a healthcare setting is necessary for conditions that can be transmitted through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, or breathes. Influenza is one of those conditions, as it is spread via droplets that can travel short distances (typically less than 6 feet) and pose a risk of infection to others nearby.

Droplet precautions typically involve the use of masks, eye protection, and sometimes gowns, particularly when caring for patients with influenza. This practice is essential to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, especially in settings where close contact occurs, such as hospitals or clinics.

In contrast, tuberculosis is transmitted through airborne particles, which require airborne precautions rather than droplet precautions. Clostridium difficile infections spread primarily via the fecal-oral route and necessitate contact precautions instead. Hepatitis B, while serious, is primarily transmitted through blood and body fluids, also warranting contact precautions rather than droplet precautions.