Isolation Precautions
- Prevents the spread of infectious diseases that are transmitted through direct or indirect contact with infected individuals or contaminated surfaces.
- Precautions include wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, gowns, and masks, appropriately disposing of contaminated materials, and observing strict adherence to hand hygiene protocols before and after patient contact.
- Droplet precautions are based on the idea that respiratory droplets, which are released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, can travel a short distance and infect others. These precautions involve placing a patient in a private room and wearing personal protective equipment, such as gloves, a gown, and a mask, when caring for them.
- The organisms for droplet precautions include bacteria and viruses that cause respiratory infections, such as influenza and streptococcal pharyngitis.
- Designed to reduce the spread of infectious agents that can be transmitted through the air. These measures include the use of special respiratory protection equipment like N95 masks or respirators, gowns, and gloves to prevent the transmission of respiratory droplets that may contain infectious organisms.
- Examples of organisms that require airborne precautions include bacteria like tuberculosis, fungi like Aspergillus and Histoplasma, and viruses like measles and chickenpox. Diseases caused by these organisms are often highly contagious and can be easily transmitted through the air by coughing, sneezing, and even talking.
Attention, Attention! It is ok to cohort clients with same organism; however, always remember that you should never have two clients with cystic fibrosis in the same room! Each carries their own bacteria in their lungs that can be harmful to each other. They must stay at least 6 feet away from each other.
- A type of bacteria that causes GI infection and colitis leading to diarrhea.Â
- Risk factors: hospitalization and antibiotics.
- Spreads through spores that can reside on surfaces or equipment and can be spread by hands.
- Elderly people or those with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk.
- Symptoms: Watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, nausea and loss of appetite.
