ISOLATION TECHNIQUE / BARRIER NURSING

DEFINITION

• Isolation is the separation of infected person from the non-infected person for the period of communicability under conditions which will prevent the transmission of infection to others
• Isolation technique means observing all those practices that are designed to prevent the transmission of specific pathogens from one person to another directly or indirectly. It is also called barrier nursing technique
• Isolation is the separation of the patient and his unit from others to prevent the direct or indirect contact of infectious agent to susceptible person, e.g. droplet infection, clothing, etc
• Barrier nursing or isolation technique is intended to confine the microorganisms within a given and recognized area

PURPOSE

• To confine the pathogens within a given and recognized area
• To prevent direct contract with the infectious person
• To protect the hospital staff and other patients from infection
• To prevent cross infection on different diseases
• To protect nurses and others from possible communication of diseases by protecting nurses uniform from contamination

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

• Isolation technique is synonym for communicable disease technique and is required to be maintained to prevent the transmission of communicable diseases between the individuals
• Keep the patient in isolation room which may be a unit type or disease type according to physical set-up
• Receive necessary immunization before nursing the patient
• Inform your supervisor when you have skin lesions, sore throat or other evidence of lowered resistance
• Maintain proper aseptic practices