help with basic infection control

Published

Hello,

Does anyone out there have a chart that tells you what type of precautions to take for certain common infections in nursing homes? Like which infections are contact, which are droplet, ect.

I found one on the web but it was pediatrics and wasn't quite what I was looking for.

Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/gl_isolation.html

This doesn't have a chart but does have the information I think you are looking for.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

We have a tech in charge of the isolation carts and he has devised some visual aids that help all the staff. He has laminated cards with the name of the most common diseases/germs requiring isolation. Everything that goes under "Droplet" is one color, "Airborne" is a second color and "Contact" is a third color. The door signs & a chart on what to wear all are color coded. This is really great for non-licensed personnel who are not sure about precautions.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

I could be wrong, but I don't think in LTC you can post anything on a patient's door that would indicate what kind if any infection they have. We are only allowed to post a generic "Please see nurse before entering" sign on the door of someone on special precautions.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That is all we can post too. "See nurse before entering". I was looking for more of a chart for the aids,housekeeping and other staff.

Thanks

Up Vote Up Vote ×

How about this- in LTC, you could place a color code on a door that staffing understands, which does NOT give away any info to outsiders, along with a sign to see the nurse, for anyone ( visitors) who do not know what the color code means. Would that work?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in nursing home care.

Yeah we are not allowed to post anything outside residents rooms etc, however I often find the residents know everything about each other. We had one lady who was free to use the communal areas though she had mrsa in a wound. The fellow residents heard about this and were very unkind to her, shouting at her to take her infection elsewhere everytime she entered the lounge. Tricky sotuation as to educate the other residents about her infection would be admitting she had such and therefore possibly breaking confidentiality.:uhoh3:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion