Isolation precautions

Isolation precautions are used to help stop the spread of germs from one person to another. These precautions
protect patients, families, visitors, and healthcare workers from the spread of germs.

Generally, when patients are placed on isolation precautions, there will be a sign at the door of
their hospital rooms to remind visitors and healthcare workers which isolation precautions are
needed. All healthcare workers and visitors need to follow these guidelines. Healthcare workers
should not eat or drink in isolation rooms and should always clean their hands before entering the
room and upon exiting the room.
Standard precautions are the minimum infection prevention practices that should be used in the

care of all patients all of the time. These practices are designed to both protect the healthcare
worker and to prevent the healthcare worker from spreading infections among patients.
Standard precautions include: 1) hand hygiene, 2) use of personal protective equipment (e.g.,
gloves, gowns, masks), 3) safe injection practices, 4) safe handling of potentially contaminated
equipment or surfaces in the patient environment, and 5) respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette.
Respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette are infection prevention measures to decrease the

transmission of respiratory illness such as influenza or cold viruses in healthcare facilities where
patients, employees, and visitors may not be immediately recognized as having a respiratory
infection. These measures are part of the standard precautions that should be taken to prevent the
spread of disease.
Important elements include:

Education of patients, families, visitors, and care providers about how respiratory infections are
transmitted and how respiratory illness can be prevented. Ask family members, visitors, and care
providers to stay home if they are sick.

Use of posted signs with instructions and pictures about how to cover your cough and wash your
hands.

Availability and use of tissues when coughing and sneezing, and reminders to dispose of used
tissues properly.

Use of a mask for a person who is coughing.

Physical separation of the person with a respiratory infection from others.

Stressing hand hygiene after contact with respiratory secretions. This applies to the patient,
family members, visitors, employees, and care providers.

Types of Isolation

Indications

Requirements

Duration of
precaution & example
of disease

Standard
precautions

Minimum infection
prevention practices

1) Hand hygiene
2) Use of personal

that should be used in

the care of all patients

protective equipment
(e.g., gloves, gowns,

all of the time. These

practices are designed

masks)
3) Safe injection

to both protect the

practices

healthcare worker and

to prevent the

4) Safe handling of
potentially

healthcare worker
from spreading

contaminated
equipment or surfaces

infections among
patients.

in the patient
environment
5) Respiratory
hygiene/cough
etiquette.

Contact Isolation

used for infections,

Precautions

diseases, or germs
that are spread by

touching the patient or

items in the room

Droplet Isolation

used for diseases or

Precautions

germs that are spread

in tiny droplets caused

Wear a gown
and gloves while
in the patients
room.

Remove the
gown and gloves
before leaving the
room.

Clean hands
(hand washing or
use hand
sanitizer) when
entering and
leaving the room.

Visitors must
check with the
nurse before
taking anything
into or out of the
room.

Wear a
surgical mask
while in the room.
Mask must be
discarded in trash
after leaving the
room.

by coughing and
sneezing

Clean hands
(hand washing or
use hand
sanitizer) when
they enter the
room and when
they leave the
room.

MRSA,
VRE,

diarrheal

illnesses,
open wounds,
RSV

pneumonia,
influenza,

whooping

cough,
bacterial
meningitis

Airborne Isolation

used for diseases or

Precautions

very small germs that

are spread through

the air from one

person to another

Ensure patient
is placed in an
appropriate
negative air
pressure room (a
room where the
air is gently
sucked outside
the building) with
the door shut.

Wear a fittested NIOSHapproved N-95 or

higher level
respirator while in
the room. Mask
must be
discarded in trash
after leaving the
room.

Clean hands
(hand washing or
use hand
sanitizer) when
they enter the
room and when
they leave the
room.

Ensure the
patient wears a
surgical mask
when leaving the
room.

Instruct visitors
to wear a mask
while in the room.

Tuberculosis,
measles,

chickenpox