In what scenario should a pharmacy technician wear an N95 respirator?

Wearing an N95 respirator is crucial in scenarios involving airborne precautions. This type of respirator is specifically designed to filter out at least 95% of airborne particles, including large respiratory droplets and smaller aerosols. Airborne precautions are necessary for infections that can spread through the air, such as tuberculosis, measles, or certain strains of influenza.

In situations where patients are known or suspected to have these airborne-transmitted diseases, using an N95 respirator helps protect the healthcare worker from inhaling infectious agents that could lead to illness. Other personal protective equipment, such as gowns and gloves, may be required, but the N95 respirator is particularly important because of its capability to filter out fine aerosols that may contain pathogens.

The other scenarios listed involve different forms of precautions. For instance, droplet precautions require the use of a surgical mask to protect against larger droplets, while contact precautions focus on protecting against pathogens transmitted through direct or indirect contact. Bloodborne pathogen exposure also necessitates specific precautions, generally involving gloves and gowns, rather than an N95 respirator. Thus, the use of an N95 respirator is particularly warranted in situations where airborne transmission is a risk.