Which diseases require airborne precautions?

Airborne precautions are necessary for diseases that are transmitted through tiny respiratory droplets that remain suspended in the air for long periods and can be inhaled by individuals who are further away from the source of infection. In this context, measles, chickenpox, and tuberculosis are diseases known to require airborne precautions due to the manner in which they are spread.

Measles is highly contagious and can remain airborne in an environment for up to two hours after an infected person has left the area. Chickenpox, similarly, can spread through airborne particles and even before the rash appears, making it essential to implement airborne precautions to prevent transmission. Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that can be disseminated through the air when a person with active TB coughs or sneezes, which is why appropriate airborne isolation measures are essential.

In contrast, the other groups mentioned in the options do not necessitate airborne precautions. HIV and hepatitis primarily require standard precautions and, in some cases, blood and body fluid precautions, rather than airborne measures. Strep throat and pneumonia typically spread through larger droplets and do not require airborne isolation; contact and droplet precautions are usually adequate. MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and C. difficile (Clostridium difficile)