Safety and infection control
Isolation precautions: standard, contact, droplet and airborne
Which organism needs which precautions, the room and protective equipment each one needs, and the hand-hygiene exceptions the exam loves.
8 min read·foundation·
Reviewed by a licensed nurse · 25 October 2026
Transmission-based precautions at a glance
| Type | Examples | Room | Protective equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airborne | Tuberculosis, measles, varicella (and disseminated zoster) | Airborne infection isolation room: negative pressure, door closed | Fit-tested N95 or higher respirator. Client wears a surgical mask when transported. |
| Droplet | Influenza, pertussis, mumps, rubella, meningococcal meningitis, diphtheria (pharyngeal) | Private room, or cohort with the same organism | Surgical mask on entering the room. Client wears a mask for transport. |
| Contact | MRSA, VRE, C. difficile, scabies, norovirus, many wound infections | Private room preferred | Gown and gloves for every entry. Dedicated stethoscope and equipment. |
Some organisms need more than one set, for example varicella needs airborne plus contact.
Putting on and taking off equipment
- 01
Put on
Hand hygiene, gown, mask or respirator, goggles or face shield, then gloves pulled over the gown cuffs.
- 02
Take off, in the room
Gloves first, then goggles or face shield, then gown, turning it inside out as you remove it.
- 03
Leave and finish
Take the mask or respirator off outside the room (for airborne, after the door is closed). Perform hand hygiene.
Questions the exam likes
- ·Two clients who both have the same infection may share a room. Never place a client with an infection in a room with an immunocompromised client.
- ·A pregnant nurse or one who is not immune should not care for a client with measles or varicella. The assignment is a safety matter, not a preference.
- ·Transport a client on airborne or droplet precautions only when necessary, with a mask on the client.
- ·Protective (reverse) isolation protects the client who is neutropenic. It is not for contagion.
Check yourself
Did it stick?
1. A client is admitted with suspected active pulmonary tuberculosis. Which room and equipment are correct?
2. Which action is correct for a client with C. difficile diarrhea?
3. In what order should the nurse remove protective equipment inside the room?
Sources
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Educational content for exam preparation. It is not clinical guidance and does not replace your facility's policies, current professional guidelines or the advice of a qualified clinician.