LESSON 5
ISOLATION
Section I. Types of Isolation
5-1.
CATEGORIES OF ISOLATION
Isolation is the separation of a patient from contact with others in order to control
the spread of an infectious or communicable disease. Patients are isolated according to
the mode of transmission of the disease.
a. Strict Isolation. Strict isolation is used to prevent the transmission of all
highly communicable diseases that are spread by both, contact or airborne routes of
transmission. Examples of such diseases are chickenpox and rabies.
b. Respiratory Isolation. Respiratory isolation is used to prevent transmission
of organisms by means of droplets that are sneezed or breathed into the environment.
Examples of such diseases are influenza and tuberculosis.
c. Protective Isolation. Protective isolation is used to prevent contact between
potentially pathogenic microorganisms and uninfected persons who have seriously
impaired resistance. Patients with certain diseases, such as leukemia, who are on
certain therapeutic regimens are significantly more susceptible to infections.
d. Enteric Precautions. Enteric precautions are used to control diseases that
can be transmitted through direct or indirect oral contact with infected feces or
contaminated articles. Transmission of infection depends on ingestion of the pathogen.
Examples of diseases requiring enteric precautions are dysentery and hepatitis.
e. Wound and Skin Precautions. Wound and skin precautions are used to
prevent the spread of microorganisms found in infected wounds (including burns and
open sores) and contact with wounds and heavily contaminated articles. Conditions
requiring these precautions include infected burns, infected wounds, and infections with
large amounts of purulent discharge. Diseases that may require wound and skin
precautions include herpes, impetigo, and ringworm.
f. Blood Precautions. Blood precautions are used to prevent acquisition of
infection by patients and personnel from contact with blood or items contaminated with
blood. Examples of diseases that require blood precautions (refer to Lesson 1) are
HBV and HIV/AIDS.
g. Discharge Precautions.
(1) Secretion precautions-lesions. These precautions are used to prevent
acquisition of infection by personnel and patients from direct contact with wounds and
secretion-contaminated articles. Some examples of diseases requiring these
precautions are conjunctivitis, gonorrhea, and syphilis.
MD0540
5-2