Infection Control and Isolation

Precautions
Angela Purgiel
Quality and Safety Education for
Nurses (QSEN)

 SAFETY
 Knowledge
 Examine human factors and other basic safety design
principles as well as commonly used unsafe practices
 Describe factors that create a culture of safety (such as,
open communication strategies and organizational error
reporting systems)
 QSEN

 Skills
 Demonstrate effective use of technology and
standardized practices that support safety and quality
 QSEN

 Attitude
 Value the contributions of standardization/reliability to
safety
 Value own role in preventing errors
 (http://qsen.org/competencies/pre-licensure-ksas/)
 Types of Isolation

Contact Precautions
Droplet Precautions
Airborne Precautions
 Contact Precautions

 Intended to prevent transmission of infectious agents, including

epidemiologically important microorganisms, which are spread
by direct or indirect contact with the patient or the patient's
environment.
 1. Wash hands or use hand sanitizer upon entering room and as
leaving the room.
 2. Private room is required.
 3. Gloves MUST be worn at all times by all persons entering
room.
 4. Gowns MUST be worn at all times by all persons entering
room.
 5. Use disposable/dedicated BP cuff, thermometer and
stethoscope.
Proper Contact attire
 Droplet Precautions

 Intended to prevent transmission of pathogens spread

through close respiratory or mucous membrane contact
with respiratory secretions
 1. Wash hands or use hand sanitizer upon entering room and
as leaving room.
 2. Private room is required.
 3. Isolation mask MUST be worn at all times by all persons
entering room.
 4. If transport necessary patient to wear yellow isolation
mask.
Isolation Mask
 Airborne Precautions

 Airborne Precautions prevent transmission of infectious

agents that remain infectious over long distances when
suspended in the air
 1. Wash hands or use hand sanitizer upon entering room and
as leaving room.
 2. Private room with negative air pressure is required.
 3. Health Care Personnel must put on N-95 mask or Powered
Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) before entering room.
 4. Visitors should wear yellow isolation mask.
 5. If transport is necessary, patient to wear yellow isolation
mask.
(Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2009)
N-95 Mask
 Case Study

 You are caring for a patient with a history of MRSA.

The patient is admitted with a UTI and is pending a
culture and sensitivity. You find the cousin in the
patient room without the proper isolation attire. How
should you approach this situation?
 Case Study

 You are caring for a patient that has tested positive

for Cdiff. You notice his physician enters the room
without any protective gear on and is using his own
stethoscope to listen to lung sounds. What should
you do?
How QSEN relates to Isolation
Precautions?

 Knowledge
 Examine human factors and other basic safety design
principles as well as commonly used unsafe practices
 Describe factors that create a culture of safety (such as,
open communication strategies and organizational error
reporting systems)
 How do these principles relate to infection control?
 Skills
 Demonstrate effective use of technology and
standardized practices that support safety and quality
 Organizations isolation practice as guided by the CDC
 Attitude
 Value the contributions of standardization/reliability to
safety
 Value own role in preventing errors
 What is our role in infection prevention related to
isolation precautions?
 Break into Groups

 Please choose the proper Isolation for the following

conditions
 Cdiff
 MRSA Pneumonia
 Pneumococcal Pneumonia
 Tuberculosis
 Influenza A or B
 TB positive skin test, no active infection
 References

 Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009).

Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory
Committee (HICPAC). Retrieved from
http://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/2007IP/2007ip_part3.html
 Cronenwett, L., Sherwood, G., & Barnsteiner, J. (2007,
May-June). Quality and safety education for nurses.
Nursing Outlook, 55, 122-131. http://dx.doi.org/
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2007.02.006