A patient was admitted to the emergency department with a high fever and CSF findings suggestive of meningitis. What should the infection preventionist do?

• A. Initiate airborne isolation precautions
• B. Initiate contact isolation precautions
• C. Immediately initiate droplet isolation precautions
• D. Use standard precautions only

Answer: (C)

Meningitis can be transmitted via respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, or talking, so protecting others requires droplet precautions. Implementing them immediately helps prevent exposure while the diagnosis is being clarified and treatment started. This means staff wear a surgical mask when in close contact, place the patient in a private room if possible, and use gloves and a gown per protocol. Airborne precautions aren’t needed unless a truly airborne pathogen is suspected, and standard precautions alone don’t address droplet spread. Continue droplet precautions as directed by policy, typically until appropriate antibiotic therapy has begun and the patient is no longer contagious.