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Contact isolation would be required for a patient with the following condition?

1) Tuberculosis
2) Diabetes
3) Common cold
4) Fractured bone

1 Answer

5 votes

Final answer:

Contact isolation is necessary for tuberculosis, which is highly contagious and transmissible through airborne particles. Unlike diabetes, the common cold, or a fractured bone, TB involves strict isolation protocols to prevent spread. Option a.

Step-by-step explanation:

Contact Isolation for Specific Conditions, option a.

Contact isolation is a strategy used in healthcare to prevent the spread of contagious diseases. Among the conditions listed, tuberculosis (TB) is the one that requires contact isolation. Tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is highly infectious, particularly affecting the lungs. While common diseases like the common cold, conditions such as diabetes, and physical injuries like a fractured bone do not typically require contact isolation, TB does, due to its method of transmission through airborne particles.

To prevent the spread of TB, patients are often placed in isolation, where strict protocols are employed to prevent surface and equipment contamination. This includes rigorous hand hygiene and thorough disinfection of all objects coming into contact with the patient. In clinical settings, healthcare workers take precautions such as wearing respiratory masks and confining patients to specific rooms to contain the infection.

Contact isolation is not only essential for TB but also for other highly contagious diseases, ensuring that both the patient and the public are protected from the risk of disease transmission.