ARRT Patient Care Practice Exam

What type of precautions prevents the spread of infectious agents in aerosol form?

1. Strict isolation

2. Protective isolation

3. Airborne precautions

4. Contact precautions

The correct answer is: Airborne precautions

Aerosolized infectious agents can remain suspended in the air for extended periods and can be inhaled by individuals even at a distance from the source. Airborne precautions are specifically designed to prevent the transmission of diseases that are spread through this mode of infection. This involves measures such as placing patients in negative pressure rooms, requiring healthcare workers and visitors to wear masks or respirators, and ensuring proper ventilation to reduce the concentration of airborne pathogens. Strict isolation and protective isolation are not specifically targeted at aerosolized pathogens. Strict isolation is generally used to prevent transmission of highly contagious diseases through direct contact or droplet routes, while protective isolation focuses on safeguarding immunocompromised patients from infections, typically by minimizing their exposure rather than specifically targeting airborne agents. Contact precautions are aimed at preventing transmission through direct contact with the patient or their environment, which does not cover the challenges posed by airborne pathogens. Thus, airborne precautions are the appropriate measure for dealing with infectious agents that can spread via aerosolization.