Infection control: transmission-based precautions: practice question

A Microbiology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Microbiology · Infection control: transmission-based precautions

Sample item

A 17-year-old is admitted with fever, headache and a petechial rash, and Gram-negative diplococci are seen in CSF. Which precautions should be applied until he has received 24 hours of effective antibiotics?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Droplet precautions with a surgical mask for staff within close range

Neisseria meningitidis spreads by large respiratory droplets, so patients are placed on droplet precautions, ideally in a single room, until 24 hours of effective therapy. Staff wear surgical masks for close contact. Airborne precautions are for tuberculosis, measles and varicella, which spread as small droplet nuclei.

Option by option

  • A. Airborne precautions in a negative-pressure room with N95 respirators

    Airborne isolation applies to diseases such as tuberculosis, measles and varicella.

  • B. Contact precautions with gown and gloves only

    Contact precautions alone do not prevent droplet exposure, which is the route here.

  • C. Standard precautions only, with no added measures

    Standard precautions alone are insufficient because droplet spread to staff is recognised.

  • D. Droplet precautions with a surgical mask for staff within close range (correct)

    Droplet precautions match transmission by large respiratory droplets over short distances.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Microbiology questions

Questions about this Microbiology question

What is the answer to this Microbiology question?

The best answer is D, Droplet precautions with a surgical mask for staff within close range. Neisseria meningitidis spreads by large respiratory droplets, so patients are placed on droplet precautions, ideally in a single room, until 24 hours of effective therapy.

Why is "Airborne precautions in a negative-pressure room with N95 respirators" not the answer?

Airborne isolation applies to diseases such as tuberculosis, measles and varicella.

Why is "Contact precautions with gown and gloves only" not the answer?

Contact precautions alone do not prevent droplet exposure, which is the route here.

Why is "Standard precautions only, with no added measures" not the answer?

Standard precautions alone are insufficient because droplet spread to staff is recognised.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infection control: transmission-based precautions in Microbiology. Staff wear surgical masks for close contact. Airborne precautions are for tuberculosis, measles and varicella, which spread as small droplet nuclei.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Infection control: transmission-based precautions?

Make a one-line identity card for each organism: shape and stain, defining test, toxin, disease and drug. Then use the flashcards and the other Microbiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.