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rAj <br />1! <br />M <br />GENERAL ISOLATION PROCEDURES <br />1. Isolation procedures are designed to protect other residents, <br />personnel and visitors from the spread of a confirmed or <br />suspected infection or contagious disease. <br />a. Certain special procedures may be instituted when it is <br />necessary to be especially wary of protecting select <br />residents from infections. <br />b. Residents should be isolated or isolation procedures <br />instituted whenever there is a risk of spreading <br />infection. Residents should be removed from isolation or <br />the procedures discontinued only when the risk no longer <br />exists. <br />2. The isolation procedures used are based on studies of <br />pathogens, our knowledge of the natural history of certain <br />diseases and studies in epidemiology. <br />a. The methods used for controlling the infection's spread <br />are determined by the characteristics of the pathogen. <br />b. The mode used for infection control is determined by the <br />usual route of excretion of the pathogen and its site of <br />entry into the body. <br />3. The purpose and need for precautions should be explained to <br />the resident and family before they are instituted. All <br />efforts should be made to have the residents not feel stigma- <br />tized in addition to encouraging their cooperation. <br />4. The health care team and visitors should be instructed on the <br />importance and necessity of maintaining isolation techniques <br />before entering the resident's room. <br />a. Handwashing should be particularly emphasized. <br />b. Caution visitors not to remove items from the resident's <br />room which might be contaminated. <br />C. Visitors should be kept to a minimum. <br />d. Any visitor with an infection should be restricted from <br />the resident's room. <br />e. Staff members with infections should not enter the <br />resident's room. <br />(continued) <br />