Define negative pressure in patient care areas during construction and how it is achieved.

Define negative pressure in patient care areas during construction and how it is achieved.

• A. Negative pressure means air flows from the containment area into surrounding spaces.
• B. Airflow is balanced between zones with no directional preference.
• C. Negative pressure is when airflow is designed to move from adjacent spaces into the containment area and be exhausted, using exhaust fans, balanced supply and exhaust, and pressure-differential testing.
• D. Negative pressure means the containment area is kept at a higher temperature.

Answer: (C)

Negative pressure means the space inside the work area is kept at a lower air pressure than the surrounding areas, so air flows into the containment area rather than out into patient care spaces. This inward flow helps keep contaminants contained within the work zone and prevents them from escaping to patients or corridors. How it’s achieved: exhaust ventilation is used to pull air out of the containment area, while supply air is introduced at a controlled rate to maintain the pressure differential. The supply and exhaust are balanced so the negative pressure is stable, and the system is verified with pressure-differential testing (and continuous monitoring) to ensure the target negative pressure is maintained. Proper sealing, door management, and any necessary filtration (like HEPA) support maintaining this condition. Think of it as creating a small suction in the work zone relative to adjacent spaces, driven by exhaust and carefully controlled supply. Temperature has nothing to do with defining negative pressure.

Negative pressure means the space inside the work area is kept at a lower air pressure than the surrounding areas, so air flows into the containment area rather than out into patient care spaces. This inward flow helps keep contaminants contained within the work zone and prevents them from escaping to patients or corridors.

How it’s achieved: exhaust ventilation is used to pull air out of the containment area, while supply air is introduced at a controlled rate to maintain the pressure differential. The supply and exhaust are balanced so the negative pressure is stable, and the system is verified with pressure-differential testing (and continuous monitoring) to ensure the target negative pressure is maintained. Proper sealing, door management, and any necessary filtration (like HEPA) support maintaining this condition.

Think of it as creating a small suction in the work zone relative to adjacent spaces, driven by exhaust and carefully controlled supply. Temperature has nothing to do with defining negative pressure.