isolation

[optimusgts]

I have a question about pt. being admitted to our floor with known history of infection such as MRSA and VRE. Eventhough they have a course of antibiotic treatment still we put them on contact precaution if admttd again. My Manager told me before once infected youll stay infected. Do you do thesame practice as we do? or do you clear them off of isolation?

[Zookeeper3]

Anyone with a history of MRSA is flagged in our computer on contact isolation on admission, and put on contact precautions. We have standing orders for nasal swabs to be taken on three different times, and then, only then if they are negative can we clear them. These cultures have to be a week apart, so it can be very difficult to clear them as they ..

one don't stay on average for three weeks and the outpatient follow through doesn't exist

two the doctors office never screens them to clear them if they are colonized and not active

three it's easier to keep them on iso, than to clear them, a pain in the butt.. keeping communication open through the hospital and outpatient.

[optimusgts]

Thanks. for the info zookeeper3.

[JDZ344]

They stay on our computer as an infection control risk forever. They get reswabbed automatically, if negative then isolation precautions are removed. Depending on the lenght of stay, they get reswabbed every month afterward(weekly in ICU). Pain in the butt for the frequent flyers, to reswab them each time they come in.

[ORNurseAngie]

we do not isolate patients for MRS anymore, although I forget why. The infection control nurse told us why but I forgot.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

we do not isolate patients for MRS anymore, although I forget why. The infection control nurse told us why but I forgot.

A lot places have forgone with the "contact precaution" because everyone should be on contact precautions, a part of universal precautions as standard of care. And yes, because of POA (present on admission) in reguard to reimbursment, places are actually swabing everyone both nasal and anal for MRSA and VRE et al. to document POA. Usually once colonized, always colonized, as the "frequent flyers" remain in the same setting and debilitated physical state in populations fo the elderly or in a LTC setting. Many Acute care facilities are going to all private rooms to minimize cross contamination and spread of infections.