Isolation & Quarantine Measures in Response to a Smallpox Emergency

Engineering Controls

Isolation Rooms

Rooms used for isolation should be at a negative air pressure when compared to the hall or other adjoining areas. Current standards in the United States for isolation rooms require that there be at least 6-12 air changes/hour and that the air not be re-circulated to other rooms but that it be vented to the outside away from air intake vents or people traffic areas, or be filtered through high efficiency particulate air filtration systems. (Similar to isolation requirements for varicella, measles and TB.)

Testing Negative Pressure

Important to frequently test negative pressure rooms to confirm they are working correctly. Automatic airflow monitors can be wrong so simple smoke tube testing is useful. Test area around door and any vents around door that should have air moving into the room but not out of the room. Remember to keep doors to isolation rooms closed when not in use to enter or leave room! 

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