Which personal protective equipment is most important when caring for a patient with a confirmed infectious disease?

When caring for a patient with a confirmed infectious disease, the use of an N95 respirator is critical because it provides a higher level of protection against airborne pathogens. The N95 respirator is specifically designed to filter out at least 95% of airborne particles, including large respiratory droplets and smaller aerosols that may contain infectious agents. This is particularly important when dealing with diseases that can be transmitted through inhalation, such as tuberculosis or certain viral infections.

While other forms of personal protective equipment, like gloves, gowns, and face shields, play important roles in infection control by protecting against contact with infectious material or bodily fluids, they do not offer the same level of protection from airborne transmission. Therefore, in scenarios where the risk of inhalation exposure to infectious agents is high, the N95 respirator is the most important piece of personal protective equipment to ensure the safety of healthcare workers.