Isolation Information

There was some confusion on 7C this week with involving a meduflex RN, but I want you all to be reminded about a few things related to isolation.

1.  You should make every effort to know for certain why a patient is on isolation.
2.  If the patient has a drug resistant organism from any culture (including blood), they will be placed on the appropriate isolation until such time that infection control reports they are cleared.  This includes: MRSA, VRE, and drug resistant strains of GNB or Klebsiella.  While it is unlikely a blood stream infection can be passed along, those patients are at very high risk to colonize that bacteria in other places....or perhaps already be colonized.  That is why you have to put them on isolation.
3.  An infection control RN is available 24/7/365 to answer any questions about isolation.  After hours, they have someone on call for emergent issues or questions.
4.  My expectation is that we are 100% compliant with isolation precautions.

Hope this helps clear up any concerns.  Please let me or Erin know if you have questions.

Thanks so much!

Melinda