Determine the correct isolation protocol for each of the following hospital admissions. Link the patient's clinical presentation to the single most appropriate level of infection control precautions required to prevent healthcare-associated transmission.
- A 68-year-old man transferred from a long-term care facility with fungemia; blood cultures grow Candida auris.Contact Precautions
- A 4-month-old unvaccinated infant admitted with severe, paroxysmal coughing episodes followed by an inspiratory whoop; PCR is positive for Bordetella pertussis.Droplet Precautions
- A 55-year-old woman undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer who presents with a painful vesicular rash crossing three distinct dermatomes.Airborne and Contact Precautions
- A 19-year-old unvaccinated college student admitted with high fever, coryza, conjunctivitis, and a descending maculopapular rash.Airborne Precautions
Answer
Candida auris requires Contact Precautions; Bordetella pertussis requires Droplet Precautions; Herpes Zoster in an immunocompromised patient requires Airborne and Contact Precautions; Measles requires Airborne Precautions.
Each pathogen must be matched to the isolation tier that effectively interrupts its primary mode of transmission in a healthcare setting. Candida auris is primarily transmitted via direct contact with colonized surfaces. Bordetella pertussis spreads through large droplets requiring Droplet Precautions. Herpes Zoster in immunocompromised patients can spread via both direct contact and small airborne particles, requiring a combination of Airborne and Contact Precautions. Measles is a classic small-particle aerosol disease requiring strictly Airborne Precautions.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Appropriate selection of infection control isolation tiers based on specific pathogen transmission dynamics (contact, large droplet, or small-particle aerosol).
Estimated Time:1m 30s