Chart — Infection Control
Isolation Precautions Comparison Chart
PPE requirements, room specifications, and nursing workflow by isolation precaution type — the operational reference for what to wear, how to enter and exit isolation rooms, and how to transport patients safely.
Educational use only. PPE requirements may vary by institutional policy and evolving pathogen guidance. Always follow current CDC guidelines and your facility's infection control protocols. This material supports nursing education and exam review. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional policy, or medical direction. Always follow facility protocols and current provider orders.
PPE Requirements by Precaution Level
| Precaution | PPE Required | Don (Put On) | Doff (Remove) | Critical Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard |
| Before anticipated contact with blood or body fluids | Immediately after procedure; perform hand hygiene | Applies to ALL patients, every encounter. Hand hygiene before and after all patient contact. |
| Contact |
| Outside room before entering | Remove gown first, then gloves; hand hygiene at door before exiting | C. diff: soap and water required — ABHR does not kill spores. Dedicated equipment stays in room. |
| Droplet |
| Before entering room or approaching within 3 ft of patient | Remove mask after leaving room; hand hygiene | Surgical mask — NOT an N95. Upgrade to N95 only for aerosol-generating procedures (intubation, bronchoscopy). |
| Airborne |
| Don N95 BEFORE entering room; perform seal check | Remove N95 AFTER exiting and closing door; never remove inside room | N95 must be fit-tested before use. Non-immune nurses should not enter for measles/varicella if immune staff are available. |
Room and Placement Requirements
| Precaution | Room Type | Air Pressure | Air Changes/Hr | Door | Cohorting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Any room | No requirement | No requirement | No requirement | N/A |
| Contact | Private room preferred | No requirement | No requirement | May remain open | Cohort with same organism if private room unavailable; dedicated equipment stays in room |
| Droplet | Private room preferred; ≥ 3 ft spatial separation if unavailable | No requirement (positive or neutral pressure acceptable) | No requirement | May remain open | Cohort with same diagnosis acceptable |
| Airborne | AIIR required — Airborne Infection Isolation Room | Negative pressure | ≥ 12 ACH (new construction); air exhausted outdoors or HEPA-filtered | Closed at ALL times | No cohorting across different airborne pathogens (TB ≠ measles ≠ varicella) |
Patient Transport Precautions
| Precaution | Patient Wears | Staff PPE During Transport | Additional Steps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact | Clean gown; wounds and drains covered with clean dressings | Gown + gloves if direct patient contact anticipated | Minimize transport; notify receiving department; wipe transport equipment after use |
| Droplet | Surgical mask | Surgical mask if within 3 ft of patient | Notify receiving department; minimize time outside room; return promptly |
| Airborne | Surgical mask (patient does NOT wear N95) | N95 (fit-tested); donned before entering room for patient pickup | Notify receiving department in advance; minimize time outside AIIR; use designated transport route if available |
For all precaution types, transport should be limited to essential procedures — return patient to isolation room as soon as possible.
Room Entry and Exit Workflow
Contact Precautions
Entry sequence:
- Perform hand hygiene
- Don gown outside room
- Don gloves
- Enter room
Exit sequence:
- Remove gloves (peel inside-out)
- Remove gown (roll inward, away from body)
- Perform hand hygiene at door
- Exit room
C. diff: soap and water required — ABHR ineffective against spores.
Droplet Precautions
Entry sequence:
- Perform hand hygiene
- Don surgical mask before entering (or within 3 ft)
- Enter room
Exit sequence:
- Exit room
- Remove surgical mask (by ties or ear loops — do not touch front)
- Perform hand hygiene
Upgrade to N95 for intubation, bronchoscopy, or open suctioning.
Airborne Precautions
Entry sequence:
- Perform hand hygiene
- Don N95 OUTSIDE room; perform seal check
- Don gown + gloves if contact precautions also required
- Enter room; close door immediately
Exit sequence:
- Remove gown and gloves inside room (if used)
- Perform hand hygiene
- Exit room; close door immediately
- Remove N95 OUTSIDE room (handle by straps only)
- Perform hand hygiene
Non-immune staff: avoid measles/varicella rooms when immune staff are available.
High-Priority Safety Points
C. difficile — Soap and Water, Not ABHR
Alcohol-based hand rub does not kill C. diff spores. Soap and water is required for hand hygiene before and after care. Environmental surfaces require bleach-based disinfectants — standard quaternary ammonium products are ineffective against spores.
N95 — Fit Testing Is Mandatory
An N95 must be fit-tested annually and fit-checked before each use. Perform positive and negative pressure seal checks every time. PAPR is an alternative when N95 fit cannot be achieved or maintained.
Non-Immune Staff — Measles and Varicella
Nurses without documented immunity should not provide care for measles or varicella patients when immune staff are available. If care is unavoidable, N95 is mandatory. Pregnancy warrants additional consideration for varicella exposure.
Dedicated Equipment — Contact Precautions
Stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, thermometer, and other reusable items must remain in the contact isolation room. If shared equipment must leave, clean and disinfect before removal to prevent fomite transfer.
Related Resources
Standards & sources
Fact-checked Jun 21, 2026This page is written to align with CDC Transmission-Based Precautions Guidelines. It is an educational summary, not a citation of any single document — always verify specific doses, values, and protocols against current guidelines and your facility policy. How we source content →