What type of isolation is required for patients with tuberculosis?

Patients with tuberculosis (TB) require airborne precautions due to the nature of how the disease is transmitted. TB bacteria are spread through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, releasing tiny droplets that can remain suspended in the air for extended periods.

Airborne precautions are specifically designed to protect against diseases that are transmitted through the air in this way. This includes using specialized respiratory protection, such as N95 respirators or higher-level masks, and ensuring that the patient is placed in a negative pressure room if available. These measures help to minimize the risk of transmission to healthcare workers and other individuals in the vicinity.

In contrast, other types of precautions like contact and droplet precautions are appropriate for different types of infections. Protective isolation is used primarily for immunocompromised patients to prevent them from being exposed to infections from the environment or from others, which is not necessary in the case of tuberculosis if proper airborne precautions are followed.