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Why, When, and How to Isolate ICU Patients

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Conclusion

More than 50 % of patients admitted to ICUs are already colonized at the time of admission with organism(s) responsible for subsequent endogenous and exogenous infections.

The CDC has published guidelines on isolation precautions to minimize the risk of transmission of infectious agents from colonized/infected patients to other patients or healthcare workers. These are based on the application of standard precautions among which hand hygiene is the most important measure. In addition, specific precautions based on the mode of spread of the microorganism, i.e., via airborne particles, infectious droplets or direct contact, are also recommended.

Recommended measures are restrictive and unpopular and compliance is difficult to maintain, particularly in busy ICUs. However, they are both effective and cost-effective in the control of serious nosocomial infection such as those due to MRSA or multi-drug resistant Gram-negative bacteria.

The scientific rationale of isolation precautions is discussed in detail and practical guidelines are presented in simplified tables.

It is suggested that local factors be taken into account whenever application of recommendations requires changes of healthcare worker behavior.

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Authors
  1. Bina Rubinovitch
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  2. Philippe Eggimann
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  3. Didier Pittet
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Intensive Care, Erasme University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium

    Jean-Louis Vincent M.D.

  2. Service de Réanimation Polyvalente, Hôpital Saint-Joseph, Paris, France

    Jean Carlet M.D.

  3. Division of Infectious Diseases, The Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Pawtucket, RI

    Steven M. Opal M.D.

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© 2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Rubinovitch, B., Eggimann, P., Pittet, D. (2002). Why, When, and How to Isolate ICU Patients. In: Vincent, JL., Carlet, J., Opal, S.M. (eds) The Sepsis Text. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47664-9_33

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47664-9_33

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-7923-7620-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-306-47664-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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