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What are Isolation Precautions?
There are two kinds of isolation precautions:
- Protective Isolation is the separation of a patient who is ill or vulnerable to the risk of infection from common bacteria carried by people (such as patients receiving chemotherapy). Their susceptibility to infections will vary depending on their current health and their body’s resistance.
- Source Isolation is used to prevent the transmission of infection/ other disease-causing organisms to others. This is used particularly for those infections where the main transmission route is airborne, for example measles, influenza and COVID-19. Patients with an infectious cause of diarrhoea/ vomiting will also be nursed in a single room. Patients who are colonised, or who have infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as MRSA (Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), will also normally require isolation.
Patients may also be nursed in single rooms for other reasons, such as privacy and dignity.
What will staff do?
- The staff will explain to you the reason for isolation. This explanation may be from a member of the Infection Prevention and Control Team.
- Staff will evaluate the need for isolation on a daily basis to ensure that the isolation facilities are being used appropriately.
- Staff will clean their hands before and after any patient contact, after wearing gloves, and after contact with close patient environment. Please challenge them if they don’t do this.
- Staff will wear personal protective clothing, such as gloves and apron, if they are carrying out close personal care, including toileting and wound care. They will not be worn for ‘social contact’, when there is no risk of contact with blood or body fluids, such as taking your blood pressure.
- Some isolation rooms have en-suite facilities. Where en-suite facilities are unavailable, a dedicated commode or a designated ward toilet will be allocated for the duration of isolation.
- The door of the single room will be kept closed. Isolation signage will be shown on the outside of the room door to let staff know what to do.
- Staff and visitors will report to the nurse-in-charge before entering the single room. The nurse will explain the reasons for the precautions and any additional measure to be taken.
As a patient, how can you help?
- Visitors should clean their hands before and after visiting.
- Advise visitors not to have contact with any of your wound dressings, intravenous lines, feeding tubes, etc.
- Visitors do not need to wear personal protective clothing for routine visiting.
- If you would like more information on why you are being nursed in a single room, please let your nursing staff know, so that they can provide the information. This may include talking you through a relevant leaflet, or asking a member of the Infection Prevention and Control Team to come and speak with you.
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Infection prevention and control (IPC) service.
About this information
Service:
Infection prevention and control (IPC)
Reference:
LL/006
Approval date:
23 December 2024
Review date:
1 December 2027
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.