What is an example of protective/reverse isolation?

• A. Standard room isolation
• B. Bubble Boy
• C. Airborne isolation for a patient with TB
• D. Contact precautions only

Answer: (B)

Protective or reverse isolation is about shielding a highly vulnerable patient from any potential infection in the surrounding environment. This means a private room with measures like positive air pressure and filtered air, restricted visitors, and strict use of PPE by staff, plus the patient may wear a mask when out of the room to minimize exposure. An iconic example is the “Bubble Boy,” a patient kept in a sterile, sealed environment to prevent infection because their immune system is extremely compromised. Other isolation types are designed to prevent the spread of infection from the patient to others (standard precautions, airborne isolation for TB, or contact precautions), rather than to protect the patient.