Question about Pneumonia and Infection Control

[HappyMeNow]

Are all forms of pneumonia under droplet precautions?

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

Not necessarily. Pneumonia has several different causes. Aspiration pneumonia, for example, is not caused by a virus or bacteria. If the causative virus or bacteria can be identified, it's possible to determine whether it is spread by contact or droplet. For example, RSV is a virus affecting the upper respiratory tract. It presents very much like a severe cold. However, RSV is spread by contact. It doesn't live in the droplets, so RSV patients are only on contact precautions. But in general, all patients who present with pneumonia-like symptoms who are coughing and/or sneezing will be on droplet precautions until their illness can be determined.