Isolation precautions
Droplet Precautions
Droplet Precautions are added to Standard Precautions for patients known or suspected to have pathogens spread by respiratory droplets — larger particles from coughing, sneezing or talking that travel only short distances. Examples include influenza, pertussis, Neisseria meningitidis, mumps and group A streptococcal pharyngitis or pneumonia.
PPE
- Put on a facemask (surgical or procedure mask) when you enter the patient’s room or cubicle.
- Add eye protection or other PPE when Standard Precautions call for it.
Room placement
- A single-patient room is preferred, especially for patients with excessive cough and sputum.
- Patients with the same infection can be cohorted.
- If a room is shared, keep patients more than 3 feet apart and draw the privacy curtain.
- Special air handling and ventilation are not needed, and the door may remain open.
Transport
- Limit transport and movement outside the room to medically necessary purposes.
- The patient wears a mask and follows respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette.
- No mask is required for staff transporting a patient on Droplet Precautions.
Conditions that need Droplet Precautions
All 25 entries in CDC’s Appendix A that include Droplet Precautions, with CDC’s duration.
Diphtheria — Pharyngeal
DropletStandardDurationUntil off antimicrobial treatment and culture-negative
Epiglottitis, due to Haemophilus influenzae type b
DropletStandardDurationUntil 24 hours after initiation of effective therapy
Influenza — Pandemic Influenza (also a human influenza virus)
DropletStandardInfluenza guideDuration—
Meningitis — Haemophilus Influenzae, type b known or suspected
DropletStandardMeningococcal disease guideDurationUntil 24 hours after initiation of effective therapy
Meningitis — Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcal) known or suspected
DropletStandardMeningococcal disease guideDurationUntil 24 hours after initiation of effective therapy
Meningococcal disease: sepsis, pneumonia, Meningitis
DropletStandardMeningococcal disease guideDurationUntil 24 hours after initiation of effective therapy
Mumps (infectious parotitis)
DropletStandardMumps guideDurationUntil 5 days after the onset of swelling
Mycoplasma pneumonia
DropletStandardDurationDuration of Illness
Parvovirus B19 (Erythema infectiosum)
DropletStandardDuration—
Pertussis (whooping cough)
DropletStandardPertussis guideDurationUntil 5 days after initiation of effective antibiotic therapy
Plague (Yersinia pestis) — Pneumonic
DropletStandardDurationUntil 48 hours after initiation of effective antibiotic therapy
Pneumonia — Adenovirus
DropletContactStandardDurationDuration of illness
Pneumonia — Haemophilus influenzae, type b — Infants and children
DropletStandardDurationUntil 24 hours after initiation of effective therapy
Pneumonia — Meningococcal
DropletStandardDurationUntil 24 hours after initiation of effective therapy
Pneumonia — Mycoplasma (primary atypical Pneumonia)
DropletStandardDurationDuration of illness
Pneumonia — Streptococcus, group A — Adults
DropletStandardDurationUntil 24 hours after initiation of effective therapy
Pneumonia — Streptococcus, group A — Infants and young children
DropletStandardDurationUntil 24 hours after initiation of effective therapy
Rhinovirus
DropletStandardDurationDuration of illness
Rubella (German measles)
DropletStandardDurationUntil 7 days after onset of rash
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
AirborneDropletContactStandardDurationDuration of illness plus 10 days after resolution of fever, provided respiratory symptoms are absent or improving
Streptococcal disease (group A Streptococcus) — Skin, wound, or burn — Major
DropletContactStandardDurationUntil 24 hours after initiation of effective therapy
Streptococcal disease (group A Streptococcus) — Pharyngitis in infants and young children
DropletStandardDurationUntil 24 hours after initiation of effective therapy
Streptococcal disease (group A Streptococcus) — Pneumonia
DropletStandardDurationUntil 24 hours after initiation of effective therapy
Streptococcal disease (group A Streptococcus) — Scarlet fever in infants and young children
DropletStandardDurationUntil 24 hours after initiation of effective therapy
Streptococcal disease (group A Streptococcus) — Serious invasive disease
DropletStandardDurationUntil 24 hours after initiation of effective therapy
Test yourself: a CIC-style question
Droplet Precautions are indicated for which of the following pathogens?
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- Influenza virus
- Varicella-zoster virus
- Norovirus
Show answer
B. Influenza virus
Influenza spreads mainly by respiratory droplets, so it needs Droplet Precautions. Tuberculosis and varicella need Airborne Precautions; norovirus needs Contact Precautions.
Questions like this come up in the Preventing and Controlling the Transmission of Infectious Agents domain of the CIC® exam. The 654 questions in the app each come with a written explanation.
FAQ
- Do I need an N95 for Droplet Precautions?
- No. CDC’s Droplet Precautions call for a facemask (surgical or procedure mask) on room entry. An N95 or higher respirator is the requirement for Airborne Precautions.
- Does the door need to be closed for Droplet Precautions?
- No. Special air handling and ventilation are not required for Droplet Precautions and the door may remain open. A closed door and negative pressure are Airborne Precautions requirements.
Sources
- CDC. 2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Summary of Recommendations
- CDC. Appendix A: Type and Duration of Precautions Recommended for Selected Infections and Conditions (2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions, updated September 2024)
- CDC. Infection Prevention and Control Strategies for Seasonal Influenza in Healthcare Settings
Checked against CDC on October 21, 2026. For education and CIC® exam preparation only — not a substitute for your facility’s infection prevention policies, your state or local health department, or clinical judgment. CBIC and CDC do not endorse this tool.