What is the primary purpose of a negative-pressure room in airborne isolation?

• A. To prevent airborne pathogens from escaping to other areas
• B. To increase humidity for patient comfort
• C. To reduce noise in the unit
• D. To enhance staff access to the patient

Answer: (A)

Containment of airborne pathogens by maintaining negative pressure and controlled exhaust. A negative-pressure room keeps the air pressure inside lower than the surrounding areas, so air tends to flow into the room rather than out. The room is then continuously exhausted or filtered (often with HEPA filtration) to prevent contaminated air from escaping to hallways or other rooms. This setup protects other patients and staff from exposure to airborne infectious particles. Humidity, noise levels, and easier staff access aren’t the goals of this design; the priority is preventing the spread of airborne pathogens.