Which room is designed specifically for isolating airborne pathogens?

The Airborne Infection Isolation Room (AIIR) is specifically designed to isolate airborne pathogens to prevent their spread. These rooms maintain negative pressure relative to the surrounding areas, ensuring that air flows into the room but does not escape into adjacent spaces. This isolation is crucial for managing infections that are transmitted through the air, such as tuberculosis or certain viral infections, helping to protect both healthcare workers and other patients from airborne contaminants.

In addition to the negative pressure feature, AIIRs are typically equipped with specialized ventilation systems that filter and purify the air before it is recirculated or expelled outside. This ensures that any pathogens present in the air are effectively eliminated, contributing to a safer healthcare environment. The design of the AIIR adheres to strict health guidelines that dictate the minimum requirements for isolation rooms handling airborne infectious diseases.

While a negative pressure room serves a similar function to AIIRs, the AIIR designation specifically refers to the setup equipped for airborne infection control, clarifying its purpose in healthcare settings. General isolation rooms may not provide the same specific controls for airborne pathogens and contaminated areas are typically not designed for patient care but rather for managing waste and heavily soiled items.