A patient sneezes while you are providing direct care without a mask. What should you happen next?

Question

Accepted Answer

Immediately step back and put on a mask. When a patient sneezes during direct care without a mask, the immediate priority is protective action: step back to increase distance and put on a mask to reduce further exposure risk. Hand hygiene should also be performed promptly. Reporting and documentation (D) may be appropriate if symptoms develop or if the patient has a known or suspected communicable condition, but immediate protective action comes first for a single unprotected exposure. Ignoring the exposure (A) is never appropriate. Hand washing and monitoring (C) addresses hygiene but delays the immediate protective response.