What type of isolation is required for a patient diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis?

The requirement for airborne isolation in patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis is grounded in the transmission dynamics of the disease. Tuberculosis is primarily spread through the inhalation of airborne particles that contain the bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. When an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, they can release these infectious droplets into the air, which can remain suspended for extended periods and be inhaled by others, leading to further transmission.

Airborne isolation precautions are specifically designed to protect healthcare workers and visitors from inhaling these infectious agents. This involves placing the patient in a single-person room with negative pressure relative to the hallway, ensuring that air does not flow from the patient’s room into other areas of the healthcare facility. Additionally, healthcare workers must wear N95 respirators or higher-level protective masks when entering the room to mitigate the risk of inhaling airborne particles that could be infectious.

In contrast, the other types of precautions noted are not suitable for tuberculosis. For example, contact isolation is intended for pathogens that spread through direct contact, while droplet isolation addresses diseases that spread through respiratory droplets larger than those involved in airborne transmission. Standard precautions are the baseline infection control practices that apply to all patients and do not specifically account for the airborne nature of tuberculosis