ARRT Patient Care Practice Exam

Which condition is least likely to require contact isolation?

1. MRSA

2. C-diff

3. HIV

4. TB

The correct answer is: HIV

Contact isolation is a precautionary measure used to prevent the spread of infectious agents that can be transmitted through direct or indirect contact with the patient or their environment. Among the conditions listed, HIV is the least likely to require contact isolation. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is primarily transmitted through specific routes such as sexual contact, sharing of needles, or from mother to child during childbirth or breastfeeding. It is not typically spread through casual contact, making contact isolation unnecessary in most healthcare settings. Standard precautions and safe handling practices are generally sufficient to protect healthcare workers and other patients from the transmission of HIV. On the other hand, MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), C. diff (Clostridioides difficile), and TB (Tuberculosis) have higher transmission potentials associated with direct contact or shared surfaces, which necessitates the use of contact isolation to prevent their spread. This is especially true for MRSA, which can colonize on skin and surfaces, C. diff, which is spread via spores that can persist in the environment, and TB, which is airborne but may still require specific precautions due to its infectious nature.