What type of room is required for TB or COVID-19 patients?

• A. Standard room
• B. Positive pressure private room
• C. Negative pressure airborne isolation room
• D. Open ward

Answer: (C)

Airborne pathogens like TB and aerosol-generating cases of COVID-19 require a room that contains contaminants and prevents their spread to other areas. A negative-pressure airborne isolation room does this by pulling air into the room from adjacent spaces and exhausting it outside (or filtering it) so air doesn’t escape to the hallway. The room is kept at negative pressure relative to surrounding areas and is designed to deliver a high number of air changes per hour, helping dilute and remove infectious particles. Staff wear appropriate PPE, such as N95 respirators, when entering. In contrast, a standard room provides no isolation, a positive-pressure private room can push air from the room into surrounding areas and potentially spread pathogens, and an open ward offers no containment at all. Thus, the necessary room type for TB or COVID-19 is a negative-pressure airborne isolation room.