Yale
New Haven Hospital
QISS
GB 325
New Haven, CT
06504 USA
Dr. Jeff Topal
688-4634
Contact Precautions Specifications
Place the patient in a private room. If a private room is not available,
cohorting may be possible with other patients with the same
disease/organism. For any questions regarding cohorting, call
HEIC at 8-4634.
Display the green Contact Precautions sign on the door of the patient's room. This sign will notify all personnel and visitors of the need to take special precautions prior to entering the room. The nursing staff will inform visitors and other persons to wear gowns and gloves upon entering the room of a patient on Contact precautions. Place a green Contact Precautions sign on the cover of the patient's medical record.
Practice strict barrier precautions for all contact
with the patient and with the patient's immediate environment.
Disposable gloves and gowns must be worn for all personnel upon entering the room. Remove gloves and gown before exiting the room.
Practice strict handwashing after removal of gloves and after
removing all other personal protective equipment.
Designated patient equipment must be provided. The
equipment should not be shared (unless it is properly disinfected)
between patients. Examples of patient designated equipment, include
but are not limited to: electronic thermometer, tympanic probe, blood pressure
cuff, portable manometer, stethoscope, IV pole, IV pump, oximeter, etc.
Following discharge, the patient's equipment should be thoroughly
cleaned and disinfected with an EPA-approved
disinfectant before use on another patient.
Instruct the Environmental Associate to wipe down all the horizontal surfaces in the immediate vicinity of the patient at least daily with
an EPA-approved disinfectant. At a minimum, this cleaning should
include bed rails, over-the-bed table, night stand, the floor,
and the sink. Cleaning materials and solutions should be discarded
after use in this room and should not be used in other patient's
rooms. Terminal cleaning of the room, in addition to the routine
discharge cleaning, should include the removal and replacement
of bedside cubicle curtains.
