What type of isolation is required for patients with tuberculosis?

Airborne isolation is required for patients with tuberculosis due to the way the disease spreads. Tuberculosis (TB) is primarily transmitted through the air when an infected individual coughs or sneezes, releasing tiny droplets that can remain suspended in the air for extended periods. These droplets can be inhaled by individuals who are nearby, leading to new infections.

Airborne isolation involves specific precautions to prevent the spread of TB to other individuals. This includes placing the patient in a single room with negative air pressure, where the air does not flow out into the general environment, alongside the use of specialized masks (such as N95 respirators) by healthcare workers and visitors.

Other types of isolation, such as contact or droplet isolation, do not adequately address the airborne nature of TB transmission. Protective isolation is typically used for patients who are immunocompromised and at risk for infections from the environment, which is not applicable in the case of TB patients. Thus, airborne isolation is the correct approach to prevent the spread of tuberculosis.