Airborne isolation is indicated for diseases such as which of the following pairs?

• A. Measles and Tuberculosis
• B. Measles and Influenza
• C. Tuberculosis and Pneumonia
• D. Influenza and Pneumonia

Answer: (A)

Airborne isolation is used for diseases spread by very small particles that can stay suspended in the air and travel with air currents. Measles and tuberculosis are classic examples of this kind of transmission, so they require airborne precautions to prevent spread. Measles spreads through droplet nuclei that can linger in the air, and tuberculosis spreads by tiny airborne droplets when someone with active TB coughs or sneezes. Because of this, facilities use negative-pressure rooms and respiratory protection to containing these diseases.

In contrast, influenza is typically spread by larger respiratory droplets and is managed with droplet precautions, and pneumonia is a syndrome that can result from various pathogens spread by different routes, not inherently airborne. That’s why the combination of measles and tuberculosis fits airborne isolation best.