What is an important practice for patients with airborne infections?

Isolation in a negative pressure room is essential for patients with airborne infections because it helps prevent the spread of infectious particles into the environment. Negative pressure rooms maintain lower air pressure inside the room compared to the outside, ensuring that air flows into the room rather than out of it. This containment is crucial for diseases transmitted through airborne particles, as it significantly reduces the risk of infection for healthcare workers and other patients in the facility. Furthermore, these rooms are equipped with specialized ventilation systems that filter and sterilize the air, further enhancing safety measures.

In contrast, encouraging open windows could lead to uncontrolled airflow, potentially spreading pathogens rather than containing them. Saying that no special accommodations are needed neglects the critical precautions required for managing airborne infections. Lastly, relying solely on standard surgical masks would not be sufficient protection; such masks do not filter out the smallest airborne particles, which can easily be inhaled, making higher-level respirators like N95 or powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) necessary for protection.