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Negative air pressure is required for effective decontamination in healthcare settings, particularly in isolation rooms and areas where infectious materials are handled. This type of pressure helps contain airborne pathogens or contaminants within a designated area, preventing them from escaping into the general environment.

When negative pressure is maintained, air is drawn into the space but not allowed to escape, ensuring that any potential airborne contaminants are filtered through appropriate ventilation systems, such as high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. This is especially relevant in situations where patients with airborne diseases are treated, as it protects healthcare workers and other patients from exposure.

In contrast, positive pressure involves pushing air out of a space, which could allow contaminants to escape, and neutral pressure neither pushes nor pulls air, making it less effective for controlling the spread of harmful pathogens. High pressure is not a standard term used in infection control contexts and does not relate to decontamination strategies directly.