Isolation Review for

Residents and Interns

(effective July 1, 2005)

Why are the Guidelines

Changing?
reduce

the number of isolation patients by

targeting patients and transmission methods
with the highest risk of transmission
promote the appropriate use of isolation
supplies
improve the quality of isolation practices at
GWUH

In Service Objectives

Participants will be able to :

State the color code for each isolation category

Discuss the proper selection and use of gowns , gloves and
mask for isolation precautions
List the the most frequent diseases requiring Isolation at
GWUH
Discuss isolation requirements for patients with resistant
organisms
Discuss protocols for removing patients from isolation

ISOLATION COLOR CODES

AIRBORNE

(blue sign) TB, chicken pox and

measles
CONTACT (pink sign) MRSA, VRE ,C Diff,
shingles
DROPLET (green sign) influenza, bacterial
meningitis

CONTACT ISOLATION REVIEW

Gloves

are required to enter the room

Gowns required for extensive contact with
patient, ( repositioning, bathing, dressing
change, etc.).
Patient must have dedicated non-critical
equipment ( BP cuff, stethoscope,
tourniquet,etc.)
Wash

Your Hands When Leaving ! !

AIRBORNE ISOLATION REVIEW

Place

patient in a negative pressure room

Door to the room needs to remain closed
All staff wear N95 (duckbill mask) when
entering the room
Fit testing required for N95
N95 mask is removed after leaving the
patient room
Wash Your Hands When Leaving ! !

DROPLET ISOLATION REVIEW

Wear

surgical mask for all entry into the

room
Mask may be removed at door or
immediately after leaving the patients
room and disposed of in the regular trash
container
Wash Your Hands When Leaving !!

WAYS TO COMMUNICATE
ISOLATION STATUS

All charts should have isolation sticker on front of

chart ( nurse is responsible).
Other departments will be notified of isolation
when orders are entered into SMS placed or when
services are requested by phone.
All patient boards should identify isolation patients
by letter or Color code placed next to patient
name on board.
Information regarding resistant organisms from a
previous admission will be entered on the infection
control advisory by infection control

MRSA and VRE ISOLATION

Patients colonized with MRSA or VRE do not require
isolation.
Patients with MRSA or VRE in blood do not require
isolation
MRSA or VRE in wounds or sputum do require
isolation
MRSA or VRE in urine or stool will require isolation
if :the patient is diapered or incontinent or
if the patient has an invasive GI or GU device, i.e. foley or
rectal tube.

ISOLATION REMINDERS
Remove

gown, gloves and mask (except N

95-duckbill mask) before leaving patient
room

Use

proper hand hygiene before or

immediately after leaving patients room

Criteria for Discontinuing ARO

Isolation
48

hours post completion of antibiotic

treatment
Culture the previous positive site on three
consecutive days
If all 3 cultures are negative patient may be
removed from isolation

Criteria for Discontinuing AFB

Isolation
Bronchial

wash is negative for AFB

or

Sputum

smear negative for AFB x3

or

Patient

on effective therapy, demonstrating

clinical improvement and 2 consecutive
negative sputum smears collected on different
days