A nurse is admitting a child who has pertussis. Which of the following isolation precautions should the nurse initiate?

Choice A rationale Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis and is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets. When an infected individual coughs or sneezes, they expel these droplets into the air, which can be inhaled by others. Droplet precautions involve wearing a surgical mask within a certain distance of the patient to prevent transmission. Choice B rationale Contact precautions are used for diseases transmitted by direct or indirect contact with the patient or their environment. While pertussis can be transmitted this way, droplet transmission is the primary route. Contact precautions involve wearing gloves and gowns, but they are not the primary isolation method for pertussis, making droplet precautions more essential. Choice C rationale Airborne precautions are reserved for diseases with small particles that can remain suspended in the air for extended periods and travel long distances, such as tuberculosis or measles. Pertussis droplets are larger and fall to the ground quickly. Airborne precautions, which require a negative-pressure room and N95 mask, are not necessary for pertussis. Choice D rationale Protective environment, or neutropenic precautions, is used for immunocompromised patients to prevent infection from the outside environment. This involves positive-pressure rooms and HEPA filtration. This is not appropriate for pertussis, as the goal is to contain the infection from the patient rather than protect the patient from external pathogens.