Final answer:
Harry with active tuberculosis needs to be placed in a negative pressure room in the hospital to prevent the spread of the infection, as the room maintains lower pressure inside, preventing contaminated air from flowing to other parts.
Step-by-step explanation:
If Harry has an active case of tuberculosis, he should be placed in a negative pressure room if hospitalized. This type of room helps to prevent the spread of infectious agents like Mycobacterium tuberculosis because it maintains a lower pressure inside the room than the surrounding areas, causing air to flow into the room rather than out of it. This way, contaminated air is not circulated to other parts of the hospital, thereby protecting other patients and healthcare staff.
Isolation protocols are critical for infections such as tuberculosis, which are spread through airborne particles. When a patient like Harry is placed in a negative pressure room, the air from the room is typically exhausted directly to the outside or filtered before being circulated back into the general ventilation system. Additionally, healthcare workers will use personal protective equipment (PPE), which may include N95 respirators or higher-level respirators, to further minimize the risk of transmission while providing care.