Special precautionary measures, practices, and procedures used in the care of patients with contagious or communicable diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides explicit and comprehensive guidelines for control of the spread of infectious disease in the care of hospitalized patients. The type of infectious disease a patient has dictates the kind of isolation precautions necessary to prevent spread of the disease to others. Standard Precautions are the primary tool for the successful control of hospital acquired infections. Standard Precautions are those precautions designed for the care of all patients' regardless of their diagnosis or presumed infection status. When you are close to, or are handling, blood, body fluid, body tissues, mucous membranes, or areas of open skin, you must use personal protective equipment, depending on the anticipated exposure, such as gloves, mask and goggles, apron, gown, and shoe covers.
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 patients from breathing in these germs and getting sick. These germs include chicken pox, measles, and active tuberculosis (TB). Patients who have these germs should be in a special room where the air is gently sucked out. This is called a negative pressure room. Everyone who goes into the room should put on a respirator mask that fits well before they enter the room. Gloves are to be worn when entering the room. A gown should be worn if you anticipate that your clothing will become contaminated with infectious materials. Gown and gloves should be removed before leaving the patient's room and hands washed thoroughly. If the patient must leave their room for diagnostic tests or treatments, notify the receiving department that the patient requires Contact Precautions.
Contact precautions may be needed for germs