What is the primary personal protective equipment used in droplet precautions?

The primary personal protective equipment used in droplet precautions is a mask. Droplet precautions are implemented to prevent the spread of pathogens that are transmitted through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, or breathes. A mask acts as a barrier to minimize the risk of inhaling these droplets, ensuring that healthcare workers or individuals do not become infected when in close proximity to a patient who is infected with a droplet-transmissible disease, such as influenza or COVID-19.

While gloves, gowns, and face shields may also be used in specific situations, their primary purpose relates to different aspects of infection prevention. Gloves protect hands from potential contamination, gowns provide a protective barrier to the clothing and skin during contact with patients or bodily fluids, and face shields offer additional protection for the eyes and face. However, in terms of droplet precautions specifically, wearing a mask is the key focus to adequately protect against airborne transmission through respiratory droplets.