Isolation room is designed to?

• A. Store hazardous chemicals
• B. Provide a quiet recovery room
• C. Prevent the spread of airborne infections using negative pressure
• D. House surgical instruments sterilization

Answer: (C)

Isolation rooms are designed to prevent the spread of airborne infections by maintaining negative pressure. This means the air pressure inside the room is lower than in surrounding areas, so air flows into the room rather than out. With this setup, potentially contaminated air stays contained and is exhausted through dedicated ventilation or filtration systems, reducing the risk of pathogens reaching hallways or other rooms. Typically, these rooms have a higher rate of air changes and regulated exhaust to outside or through proper filtration, and doors are kept closed to preserve the pressure differential. This arrangement is specifically for infection control, unlike the other options: a space for chemical storage, a quiet recovery room intended for patient rest, or an area for sterilizing instruments, none of which are intended to contain airborne pathogens.