Standard Precautions
Standard Precautions are used by all hospital staff while caring for all patients whether an infection is present or not. Hospital staff will use gloves, masks and/or gowns if contact with blood or body fluid is expected. Gloves are taken off and thrown away immediately after completion of a task. Hands are washed before putting gloves on and every time gloves are removed. For some procedures (e.g., starting an I.V.), only gloves may be needed; during other procedures (e.g., intubation), staff will use gloves, a gown, and face shield or mask and goggles. Standard Precautions help to protect patients by ensuring that hospital staff does not carry infectious organisms to patients on their hands or via equipment used during patient care. At times patients with the same infectious organism will be placed together to keep their care located in one area and prevent contact with other patients.
Respiratory Hygiene/Cough Etiquette
Respiratory hygiene/Cough etiquette applies to anyone (visitors, patients, hospital staff, etc.) with signs of illness including cough, stuffy nose, runny nose, and/or fever. Respiratory hygiene/Cough etiquette stations can be found in waiting rooms. Surgical masks and tissues are available at these stations. Everyone is asked to cover their coughs with either a mask or a tissue to help prevent the spread of respiratory infections. Rinseless alcohol based hand hygiene products are also provided. Each station includes instructions on how to use the products supplied. Visitors who have a cough, runny nose, fever or are sneezing will be asked to wear a mask while in the hospital/clinic and will be asked to stay in the patient’s room to keep them from making others sick, especially in public waiting areas and the cafeteria. The best thing to do is not visit a patient when you are sick.
Transmission Based Precautions
Transmission-Based Precautions are an additional measure used by hospital staff for patients who are known or suspected to have an infectious organism. A sign is placed at the door of the patient room when one of these special precautions is needed. Some diseases require more than one Transmission-Based Precaution. These precautions are always used in addition to Standard Precautions. Transmission-Based Precautions remain in effect for limited periods of time. Everyone entering the patient room is asked to follow the directions on the signs that are posted.
Types of Transmission Based Precautions
Airborne Isolation -
Patients are placed in a special private room. These rooms are negative pressure, which means air is gently pulled into the room. A surgical mask will be placed on the patient when they are outside the room. Hospital staff will wear a special mask while caring for a patient in Airborne Isolation.
Droplet Precautions -
Patients are placed in a private room if possible or placed with patients who have the same infectious organism. A surgical mask and possibly a face shield or goggles are worn by everyone entering the patient room when they will be within 3 feet of the patient. Patients will wear a surgical mask when outside of the room.
Contact Precautions -
Patients are placed in a private room if possible. A gown, gloves, possibly a mask and goggles are worn by anyone caring for the patient. The gown, gloves, mask and goggles are to be taken off and thrown away inside the patient room. Patient movement from the room may be limited. Everyone (staff, patients, visitors, etc.) is to wash their hands before leaving the patient room.
Protective Environment -
A Protective Environment is designed for allogeneic Hematopoetic stem-cell transplant (HSCT) patients, only. No published reports support the benefit of placing solid organ transplants or other immunocompromised patients in a Protective Environment.
