| Yale
New Haven Hospital QISS GB 325 New Haven, CT 06504 USA Dr. Jeff Topal 688-4634 |
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| Airborne Precautions |
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| Airborne Precautions are designed to reduce the risk or eliminate the airborne transmission of infectious agents. Airborne transmission occurs by dissemination of either airborne droplet nuclei (small-particle residue-5 um or smaller sized evaporated droplets which remain suspended in the air for long periods of time) or dust particles containing the infectious agent. Microorganisms carried in this manner can be dispersed widely by air currents and may become inhaled by or deposited on a susceptible host within the same room or over a longer distance from the source patient, depending on environmental factors; therefore, special air handling and ventilation (i.e. negative pressure isolation) are required to prevent airborne transmission. Airborne Precautions apply to patients known or suspected to be infected with epidemiologically important pathogens that can be transmitted by the airborne route, (e.g. Mycobacterium tuberculosis). |
Last modified: September 30, 2002.
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