What type of personal protective equipment should a patient care technician wear when caring for a patient with pulmonary tuberculosis?

In the context of caring for a patient with pulmonary tuberculosis, wearing an N95 respirator is crucial due to the airborne nature of the disease. Tuberculosis (TB) bacteria can be transmitted through airborne droplets that are released when a person coughs, sneezes, or talks. The N95 respirator is specifically designed to filter out at least 95% of very small (0.3 micron) particles, including those that could carry the TB bacteria. This level of respiratory protection is necessary to reduce the risk of the healthcare provider inhaling infectious particles while in close proximity to the patient.

Gowns, face shields, and goggles are important in various healthcare scenarios for protecting against fluid exposure and large droplets, but they do not provide the same level of respiratory protection as an N95 respirator when dealing with airborne infectious diseases like tuberculosis. Therefore, while those other forms of personal protective equipment may be used in certain situations, they are not the primary means of protecting against the transmission of TB in the air.