Isolation precautions
Isolation precautions create barriers between people and germs. These types of precautions help prevent the spread of germs in the hospital.
Anybody who visits a hospital patient who has an isolation sign outside their door should stop at the nurses' station before entering the patient's room. The number of visitors and staff who enter the patient's room may be limited.
Different types of isolation precautions protect against different types of germs.
Standard Precautions
When you are close to patients or close to handling blood, bodily fluid, bodily tissues, mucous membranes, or areas of open skin, you must use personal protective equipment (PPE).
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Personal protective equipment is special equipment you wear to create a barrier between you and germs. This barrier reduces the chance of touching, ...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleFollow standard precautions with all patients, based on the type of exposure expected.
Depending on the anticipated exposure, types of PPE that may be required include:
- Gloves
Gloves
Gloves are a type of personal protective equipment (PPE). Other types of PPE are gowns, masks, and shoe and head covers. Gloves create a barrier bet...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Masks and goggles
- Aprons, gowns, and shoe covers
It is also important to properly clean up afterward.
Clean up afterward
Germs from a person may be found on any object the person touched or on equipment that was used during their care. Some germs can live up to 5 month...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleTransmission-based Precautions
Transmission-based precautions are extra steps to follow for illnesses that are caused by certain germs. Transmission-based precautions are followed in addition to standard precautions. Some infections require more than one type of transmission-based precaution.
Follow transmission-based precautions when an illness is first suspected. Stop following these precautions only when that illness has been treated or ruled out and the room has been cleaned.
Patients should stay in their rooms as much as possible while these precautions are in place. They may need to wear a mask when they leave their rooms.
Airborne precautions may be needed for germs that are so small they can float in the air and travel long distances.
- Airborne precautions help keep staff, visitors, and other people from breathing in these germs and getting sick.
- Germs that warrant airborne precautions include chickenpox, measles, and tuberculosis (TB) bacteria infecting the lungs or larynx (voicebox).
Chickenpox
Chickenpox is a viral infection in which a person develops very itchy blisters all over the body. It was more common in the past. The illness is ra...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleMeasles
Measles is a very contagious (easily spread) illness caused by a virus.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleTuberculosis (TB)
Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious bacterial infection that involves the lungs. It may spread to other organs.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - People who have these germs should be in special rooms where the air is gently sucked out and not allowed to flow into the hallway. This is called a negative pressure room.
- Anyone who goes into the room should put on a well-fitted respirator mask before they enter.
Contact precautions may be needed for germs that are spread by touching.
- Contact precautions help keep staff and visitors from spreading the germs after touching a person or an object the person has touched.
- Some of the germs that contact precautions protect from are C difficile, norovirus, and COVID-19. These germs can cause serious infection in the intestines or lungs.
- Anyone entering the room who may touch the person or objects in the room should wear a gown and gloves.
Droplet precautions are used to prevent contact with mucus and other secretions from the nose and sinuses, throat, airways, and lungs.
- When a person talks, sneezes, or coughs, droplets that contain germs can travel about 3 feet (90 centimeters).
- Illnesses that require droplet precautions include influenza (flu), pertussis (whooping cough), mumps, and respiratory illnesses, such as those caused by coronavirus infections including COVID-19.
Coronavirus
Coronaviruses are a family of viruses. Infection with these viruses can cause mild to moderate respiratory illnesses, such as the common cold. Some...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Anyone who goes into the room should wear a surgical mask.
References
Calfee DP. Prevention and control of health care-associated infections. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 266.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Isolation precautions. www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/guidelines/isolation/index.html. Updated July 22, 2019. Accessed October 24, 2021.
Palmore TN. Infection prevention and control in the health care setting. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 298.
Review Date: 10/24/2021
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.