A patient has active tuberculosis. Which of the following is most important for the nurse to implement?

A. Use an N95 respirator when entering the room: An N95 respirator provides a tight seal and filters airborne particles, which is essential for preventing transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Because TB spreads through airborne droplets, wearing an N95 mask is the most important protection for healthcare workers. B. Place the patient in a room with positive room airflow: Positive pressure airflow pushes air out of the room, which risks contaminating surrounding areas. TB patients must be placed in negative pressure rooms to contain and filter airborne pathogens safely within the room. C. Open the windows in the room for extra ventilation: While increasing ventilation may reduce airborne concentration of pathogens in certain settings, it is not a recommended infection control method in clinical environments. D. Use a surgical mask when entering the room: Surgical masks do not effectively filter small airborne particles like TB bacilli. They are intended for droplet precautions, not airborne precautions, and therefore offer inadequate protection for staff entering a TB patient's room.