Contact Precautions
Follow standard precautions!!!
Use to Protect Against:
Contact precautions prevent transmission from hand or skin-to-skin contact that occurs when performing patient care activities. These precautions also block indirect contact (touching) of contaminated surfaces and objects.
Patient placement
Place the person in a private room if available. Rooms can be shared if the patients have the same, but no other active infection. If these options are not possible, consult infection control professionals before placement.
Gloves and handwashing
Wear gloves when entering the room. Change gloves during the course of providing care for patient, after contact with fecal material, wound drainage, or other infectious material likely to be highly infectious. Remove gloves before leaving the room and wash hands immediately with an antimicrobial agent or waterless antiseptic agent. After removing gloves and handwashing, do not touch potentially contaminated surfaces or objects before leaving the room.
Gown
Wear a gown when entering if it is likely your clothing will have substantial contact with the patient, surfaces or objects in the room. Wear a gown if the patient is incontinent or has diarrhea, an ileostomy, a colostomy, or wound drainage not contained by a dressing. Remove the gown before leaving the room and then make sure your clothing does not contact potentially contaminated surfaces or items.
Patient transport
Limit the movement and transport of patients for essential purposes. Avoid contaminating surfaces or equipment if the patient is transported out of the room.
Patient-care equipment
Limit use of noncritical patient care equipment to a single patient where possible. If equipment must be shared, clean and disinfect before use for another patient.
