The information below refers infection control practices around the most common pathogens. Please refer to the policy under Infection Control for a more comprehensive list by type of precaution and for policy for discontinuation of precautions.
Routine Practices
Use with all patients
- Risk assessment
- Hand hygiene
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Environmental controls (e.g. patient placement, cleaning, engineering controls)
- Administrative controls (e.g. respiratory etiquette, education, healthy workplace policies, monitoring of compliance and feedback)
Contact Precautions
Wear gloves on entry to patient room or bed space. Wear a gown for all direct contact with the patient and environment.
Common Pathogens / Diagnoses
- Acute respiratory infection: (with droplet until NPS comes back negative or if documented pathogen eg RSV, influenza *^, parainfluenza, metapneumovirus, adenovirus, rhinovirus and enterovirus)
- Antibiotic resistant organisms (AROs): C difficile *, MRSA, VRE, Extended spectrum betalactamase producers (ESBL), resistant Pseudomonas
- Conjunctivitis
- Diphtheria – cutaneous
- Encephalitis */viral meningitis (pediatric only)
- Gastroenteritis (diarrhea) – viral or unknown
- Enterovirus (pediatric only)
- Hepatitis A *^ or E * (pediatric or incontinent adult)
- Herpes simplex *: disseminated/severe or neonatal (^ if HSV encephalitis or neonatal infection)
- Lice or crusted “Norwegian” scabies
- Salmonellosis (pediatrics and adults who are incontinent or non-compliant to hygiene) *
Contact / Droplet Precautions
Wear a surgical/procedure mask and eye protection when within 2 meters of a patient in Droplet Precautions
Common Pathogens / Diagnoses
- Acute respiratory infections
- Croup (infant)
- Diphtheria – pharyngeal
- Epiglottitis (Haemophilus) – pediatrics (until patient has received 24 hours of effective therapy) * if due to Haemophilus influenzae B)
- Influenza *^
- Meningitis *
- Pediatrics with unknown etiology
- Adults with unknown etiology
- Neisseria meningitides *^ (continue precautions for 24 hours after start of effective therapy)
- MRSA if pneumonia and coughing (with contact)
- Mumps *
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- Norovirus* (if vomiting)
- Parvovirus B 19
- Pertussis *^
- Rubella *
- Group A streptococcus *^ (pneumonia, invasive skin infection, necrotizing fasciitis or toxic shock)
Airborne Precautions
Wear a fit-tested, seal-checked N95 respirator for entry to the room. Place patient in a negative pressure room or place the patient in a single room with a portable HEPA filter Unit. Keep the door and windows to the patient room shut at all times. Use the anteroom if available, as a clean room.
Common Pathogens / Diagnoses
- Measles *
- MERS * (with contact)
- Tuberculosis *^: pulmonary or extra-pulmonary with draining lesion
- Varicella *^ primary
- Varicella zoster ^if immunocompromised or disseminated
Enhanced Droplet / Contact Precautions
- Hemorrhagic Fever (e.g. Lassa, Ebola, Marburg) * and refer to Ebola and other Hemorrhagic Fevers Policy
Legend
* Reportable
^ Consider post exposure prophylaxis for exposed individuals