What type of isolation is recommended for MRSA infections?

• A. Airborne precautions
• B. Contact precautions—gloves and gown
• C. Droplet precautions—mask
• D. Standard precautions

Answer: (B)

MRSA transmission occurs mainly by direct contact with infected wounds or contaminated surfaces, so protecting people and preventing spread relies on contact precautions. Wearing gloves and a gown blocks the main routes of transmission by hands and clothing, and proper sequence—put on before entering the room and remove before leaving with thorough hand hygiene afterward—keeps the microbes from moving to other patients or surfaces. Airborne precautions are for organisms that linger in the air and require a negative-pressure room and N95 respirators, which isn’t needed for MRSA in typical care. Droplet precautions address respiratory droplets and require a mask when within close range of an infected person, but MRSA is not primarily spread this way. Standard precautions are the baseline for all patients, including hand hygiene and routine PPE, but when MRSA infection or colonization is known, contact precautions provide the specific barrier needed to prevent spread.