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