Isolation Precautions Lookup
Search a condition for its isolation category and required PPE.
Contact
Gown + gloves for all room entry
Droplet
Surgical mask within 3–6 ft; private room or cohort
Airborne
Fit-tested N95 or PAPR; negative-pressure (AIIR) room, door closed
26 conditions
Clostridioides difficile (C. diff)
PPE: Gown + gloves for all room entry
Soap and water hand hygiene — alcohol rub does not kill spores. Bleach-based room cleaning.
MRSA
PPE: Gown + gloves for all room entry
Applies to infection or colonization per facility policy.
VRE
PPE: Gown + gloves for all room entry
Dedicated equipment when possible.
ESBL / CRE organisms
PPE: Gown + gloves for all room entry
Multidrug-resistant gram-negatives; strict adherence — CRE has limited treatment options.
Norovirus
PPE: Gown + gloves for all room entry
Soap and water preferred; high environmental persistence. Cohort during outbreaks.
Rotavirus
PPE: Gown + gloves for all room entry
Diapered and incontinent patients — duration of illness.
Scabies / lice
PPE: Gown + gloves for all room entry
Until 24 hours after effective treatment.
RSV
PPE: Gown + gloves for all room entry · Surgical mask within 3–6 ft; private room or cohort
Many facilities add droplet to contact for infants and young children.
Wound infection with uncontained drainage
PPE: Gown + gloves for all room entry
When drainage cannot be contained by a dressing.
Hepatitis A (incontinent patient)
PPE: Gown + gloves for all room entry
Standard precautions otherwise; contact if diapered or incontinent.
Influenza
PPE: Surgical mask within 3–6 ft; private room or cohort
Mask the patient during transport. Duration typically 7 days or per policy.
Pertussis (whooping cough)
PPE: Surgical mask within 3–6 ft; private room or cohort
Until 5 days of effective antibiotics completed.
Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcal)
PPE: Surgical mask within 3–6 ft; private room or cohort
Until 24 hours of effective antibiotics. Prophylaxis for close contacts per protocol.
Mumps
PPE: Surgical mask within 3–6 ft; private room or cohort
5 days from onset of parotitis.
Rubella (German measles)
PPE: Surgical mask within 3–6 ft; private room or cohort
7 days after rash onset. Pregnant staff should not enter.
Group A Streptococcus (severe)
PPE: Surgical mask within 3–6 ft; private room or cohort
Until 24 hours of effective antibiotics for serious invasive disease.
Mycoplasma pneumonia
PPE: Surgical mask within 3–6 ft; private room or cohort
Duration of illness.
Adenovirus pneumonia
PPE: Gown + gloves for all room entry · Surgical mask within 3–6 ft; private room or cohort
Combined contact + droplet for the duration of illness.
Tuberculosis (pulmonary/laryngeal)
PPE: Fit-tested N95 or PAPR; negative-pressure (AIIR) room, door closed
AIIR room, fit-tested N95. Patient wears surgical mask during transport.
Measles (rubeola)
PPE: Fit-tested N95 or PAPR; negative-pressure (AIIR) room, door closed
Highly contagious — airborne for 4 days after rash onset (entire illness if immunocompromised). Non-immune staff excluded.
Varicella (chickenpox)
PPE: Fit-tested N95 or PAPR; negative-pressure (AIIR) room, door closed · Gown + gloves for all room entry
Airborne + contact until all lesions crusted. Non-immune staff should not enter.
Disseminated herpes zoster
PPE: Fit-tested N95 or PAPR; negative-pressure (AIIR) room, door closed · Gown + gloves for all room entry
Airborne + contact. Localized zoster in immunocompetent patients: standard precautions with lesions covered.
COVID-19
PPE: Surgical mask within 3–6 ft; private room or cohort · Fit-tested N95 or PAPR; negative-pressure (AIIR) room, door closed
Follow current facility policy — N95 + eye protection commonly required, especially for aerosol-generating procedures.
Diphtheria (pharyngeal)
PPE: Surgical mask within 3–6 ft; private room or cohort
Until cultures negative.
Epiglottitis (H. influenzae)
PPE: Surgical mask within 3–6 ft; private room or cohort
Until 24 hours of effective antibiotics.
Parvovirus B19 (fifth disease)
PPE: Surgical mask within 3–6 ft; private room or cohort
Pregnant staff should avoid exposure.
Remember
Standard precautions apply to every patient, every time — transmission-based precautions are layered on top. When categories combine (e.g. varicella), use the full PPE of each.Educational use only. Isolation requirements and durations are set by your facility’s infection control program and current CDC guidance. 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.