Isolation of gastro patients

[Ronel]

How do you go about isolating your patients with gastro-enteritis and what other measures do you take to prevent it from spreading in the ward? Please help.

[netties]

well my dear, at the children's hosp i work at we have some very stringent infection control practices. everyone cringes when the infection control nurses are rounding. i have know people to even hide from them. that being said, ALL of our patients that are even suspected to have a gastroenteritis are placed in "contact" isolation. That is that one must be wearing a gown and gloves in order to enter the room. The patient is not allowed to leave the room unless they need to go off the unit for a test. If this is necessary the destination department is alerted when the order is entered that the patient is in isolation. when the pt leaves the room, he/she must be covered up by blankets and is not allowed to touch or play w/ anything on the jouney. All toys, games, etc. that are brought to the pt are thoroughly cleansed by our child life staff when the pt is finished w/ the item. quite enjoyable but when our staff follows appropriately we have few nosocomial infections (i.e. transfer of such wonderful ailment such as rotavirus!!!)

How do you go about isolating your patients with gastro-enteritis and what other measures do you take to prevent it from spreading in the ward? Please help.

[nurse_knitter]

I have to say "ditto" to netties post. Our practice where I work is very similar. Unfortunately, we occasionally will be stretched tight for beds and will have a kid in Contact iso in one bed and the kid in the next bed not infectious. I always get frustrated in those situations, but you gotta do what you gotta do.