1. Sarah Holzhauer Joanne Burcroff Sarah Wild
Infection Control
Sarah Holzhauer
Joanne Burcroff
Sarah Wild

2. Admitting procedure of a patient
A physician’s order is necessary for transmission-based precautions
Patient Access and Infection Prevention Nurse should be notified of any patient being placed on Isolation Precautions. With specificity to:
Contact
Droplet
Airborne
Type of isolation is to be indicated on patients Kardex, computer record, and on chart. This should include the date started and who initiated the precautions
Example: Contact precautions 07/31/12 by J.Smith, RN
Requisition for other departmental services should have an indication about isolation, Isolation stickers should be utilized where practical.

3. Equipment Needed for Isolation Precautions
A sink
Antimicrobial soap
Labeled containers for infectious wastes
Puncture-proof containers to dispose of needles and syringes
Isolation cart/overdoor container outside room, stocked with:
Disposable gloves
Disposable masks
Disposable Isolation gowns
Plastic bags for waste and laundry

4. Types of Precautions Standard Precautions
Standard precautions are practices that all healthcare workers must follow in the care of ALL patients. They apply to blood, all body fluids, secretions, excretions that contain visible blood, non-intact skin and mucous membranes. They do not apply to sweat.
Contact Precautions
This is the most common form of disease transmission. It can occur from direct skin-to-skin contact, or indirect contact with a contaminated object in the patient’s environment.
Droplet Precautions
Use these precautions when a patient is diagnosed or suspected of an infection that can be spread on droplets of sputum. These germs travel a short distance (3 feet) and can cause infection when they land on your mucous membranes.
Airborne Precautions
Use when a patient is suspected of an infection that can travel throughout the patient’s room on the air currents. Examples of these diseases are TB, chickenpox, and measles.

5. Standard Precautions
Gloves: Are to be worn when the staff member may have hand contact with blood or body fluids, mucous membranes, or non-intact skin of ALL patients, and when handling contaminated items or surface
Mask, eye protection, face shield: Wear during patient activities that are likely to generate aerosols, splashes, sprays, etc., such as suctioning and intubation
Gowns: Wear a gown if contact with the patient or blood or body fluids is anticipated
Sharps: NEVER recap, bend, or break needles. Place used disposable needles and sharps in a puncture-resistant container at the point of use
Equipment: Clean equipment with the regular germicidal cleaner
Environmental Control: Routinely clean and disinfect environmental surfaces such as: siderails, overbed tables, bedside tables, and frequently touch surfaces.
Linens: All used linen is considered contaminated. Bag in the blue plastic at the site. If linen is saturated with patient secretions, double-bag, using the blue bags and place an isolation sticker on the bag.

6. Contact Precautions Indicate the TYPE of isolation on the care plan.
Place a GREEN isolation sticker outside the patient’s room, above the room number.
A gown is required when entering a contact isolation room. Remove the gown before leaving the room.
Gloves are to be worn and hands washed prior to leaving the room.
Masks are to be worn in accordance with standard precautions.
Avoid transporting patient if possible.
Dedicate equipment to the room, OR disinfect prior to removing from the room.
WASH YOUR HANDS:
Examples:
MRSA, VRE, RSV, Lice, Scabies, Cellulitis with uncontrolled drainage, impetigo, E.Coli

7. Droplet Precautions Indicate the TYPE of isolation on the care plan
Place the ORANGE isolation sign outside the patient’s room, above the room number.
Wear surgical mask when working within 3 feet of the patient.
Avoid transporting unless necessary.
WASH YOUR HANDS!
Examples:
Rubella, Mumps, Meningitis, H-flu meningitis, Pneumonia, Influenza, Parvovirus

8. Airborne Precautions Indicate the TYPE of isolation on the care plan.
Place the patient in a NEGATIVE PRESSURE ROOM.
Place the pink isolation sign outside the patient’s room, above the room number.
Wear an N95 particulate respirator mask each time you enter the room.
Visitors and family should wear a surgical mask when entering the patient’s room.
Transport only when necessary.
WASH YOUR HANDS!!!
Negative pressure rooms located in CCU and ECU.
Examples:
Chicken pox, Measles, TB, pulmonary or laryngeal disease, Yersinia enterocolitis, SARS

9. HAND WASHING
Hand washing is the single most important step you can take to prevent the spread of any infection. Gloves do not take the place of hand washing. Hands should be washed:
Before eating, preparing food or taking medications
Before and after all patient contact
Before clean or invasive procedures
When gloves are removed after patient contact
After performing any personal body function

10. HAND WASHING PROCEDURE
Jewelry should be removed prior to washing; Watches should be moved up the arm from the wrist and the wrist should be included in the hand wash. Nails should be clean and short.
Turn on the faucet and adjust the water to flow and temperature.
Apply soap and wash fingers, palms, back of hangs, and wrist for 15 seconds.
Rinse under running water, but do not touch the inside of the sink or faucet.
Dry hands with paper towel.
Use the paper towel to turn off the faucet.
Alcohol-based hand rubs can be used to wash hands if the hands are not visibly contaminated with blood or other potentially infection materials.

11. (Contact and Droplet Precautions)
Patient Placement
(Contact and Droplet Precautions)
Private room if possible
If private room is not available, can cohort with patients with the same organism.
If not able to provide 1. or 2., Staff must maintain a 3 feet space between patients. Contact Infection Control.
Patient’s can not share bathrooms or sinks.
Airborne precautions requires patient placement in a negative pressure room

12. Evidenced Based Practice
In the UK, world wide studies showed that more than 1.4 million people are affected by health-care associated infections
Health Act 2006, In 2008 they added social care and independent health-care providers
Since its implementation, there has been a 50% reduction in MRSA bacteremia
Adequate Isolation precautions and hand washing were big contributors to this reduction in infection spreading

13. Auburn Community Hospital. (2012). Standard and transmission-based
precautions. (Policy No. IC-305). Auburn, NY: Auburn Community
Hospital.
Dugdale III, D. (2012, February 26). Isolation precautions. Retrieved from
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Lewis, S. L., Dirksen, S. R., Heitkemper, M. M., Bucher, L., et al, L., &
Camera, I. M. C. (2011). Medical-surgical nursing, assessment
and management of clinical problems. (8th ed.).
Randle, J., & Clarke, M. (2010). Infection control nurses' preceptions of the
code of hygiene. Journal of Nursing Management, 19,
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