Isolation Precautions in the Inpatient Setting

Emily W Gottenborg; Michelle A Barron

doi:10.1016/j.ehmc.2015.08.004

Isolation Precautions in the Inpatient Setting

Hosp Med Clin. 2016 Jan;5(1):30-42. doi: 10.1016/j.ehmc.2015.08.004. Epub 2015 Nov 18.

Authors

Emily W Gottenborg¹, Michelle A Barron²

Affiliations

¹ Hospital Medicine Section, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Leprino Building, 4th Floor, Mailstop F-782, 12401 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
² Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Hospital Infection Prevention and Control, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12700 East 19th Avenue, B168, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.

Abstract

This article provides an overview of the use of standard and isolation precautions in the hospital setting, including droplet, airborne, and contact precautions. The article includes the indications for use, guidance for appropriate discontinuation of precautions, and the effect of precaution use on infection control measures, patient safety and experience, health care costs, and environmental outcomes.

Keywords: Droplet, airborne, contact precautions; Hospital-acquired infections; Infectious disease transmission; Standard precautions; Transmission-based precautions.

Publication types

Review