Which of the following precautions must be considered when performing pulmonary function procedures on patients with potentially infectious airborne disease?

1. Practitioners should wear sterile gloves.
2. Practitioner should wear a personal respirator or a close-fitting surgical mask.
3. Practitioners should wash their hands between testing patients and after contact with testing equipment.
4. The mouthpiece, nose clips, tubing, and any parts of the instrument that come into direct con-tact with a patient should be disposed, sterilized, or disinfected between patients.
a. 2, 3, and 4 only
b. 2 and 3 only
c. 1, 3, and 4 only
d. 1, 2, and 3 only

ANS: A
A respiratory therapist must always wash their hands and wear gloves when dealing with pa-tients. Additional precautions are required when a patient may have an infectious disease. Thera-pist should put on a respirator or close-fitting surgical mask, washing hands constantly between testing patients and touching equipment, and dispose, sterilize, or disinfect any area or instrument that the patient may have contacted.