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Difficulty: EasyInfection Control and Hospital-Acquired Conditions

Match each of the following hospital-associated infections or specific clinical conditions to the most appropriate tier of isolation precautions required by infection control guidelines.

  • Clostridioides difficile infectionContact precautions with enteric modifications (soap and water handwashing required)
  • Active pulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosisAirborne precautions (N95 respirator and negative pressure isolation room required)
  • Suspected Neisseria meningitidis meningitisDroplet precautions (surgical mask required when within 3 feet of the patient)
  • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) wound infectionContact precautions (gown and gloves required, alcohol-based hand rub acceptable)

Answer

Clostridioides difficile requires enteric contact precautions; Mycobacterium tuberculosis requires airborne precautions; Neisseria meningitidis requires droplet precautions; MRSA requires standard contact precautions.
Each pathogen relies on a specific mode of transmission in the healthcare setting. C. difficile is a spore-forming enteric pathogen requiring soap and water. M. tuberculosis creates small droplet nuclei requiring airborne N95 precautions. N. meningitidis creates large droplets requiring surgical masks. MRSA is transmitted by direct contact and is susceptible to alcohol sanitizers.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate the transmission mechanics and spore-forming ability of Clostridioides difficile.
Identify that it requires contact precautions with enteric modifications.
Alcohol cannot penetrate the spore coat of C. difficile; therefore, soap and water are needed for mechanical removal.
2
Evaluate the transmission vector for active pulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Identify that it requires airborne precautions.
TB droplet nuclei are small enough to bypass standard surgical masks and remain suspended in the air, requiring an N95 respirator.
3
Evaluate the transmission vector for Neisseria meningitidis meningitis.
Identify that it requires droplet precautions.
Meningococcus spreads via large respiratory droplets that fall to the ground quickly, so N95 respirators are unnecessary.
4
Evaluate the transmission vector for a localized MRSA wound infection.
Identify that it requires standard contact precautions.
MRSA spreads via direct physical contact, and alcohol-based sanitizers effectively kill the bacteria.

Key Concept

Appropriate selection of hospital isolation precaution tiers based on pathogen transmission mechanics.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Infection Control and Hospital-Acquired Conditions

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