What are the isolation precautions in your hosp. for pleural effusions

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I have recently started working in a smaller hosp. and I have had some issues with the isolation precautions they do or don't follow. Most recently I am concerned about a pleural effusion issue. Where I used to work we most definitely would have had a droplet precaution. Any recommendations or facts to support my curiosity would be appretiated!

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Specializes in CCU/CVU/ICU.

Hmmm. PLease take the nearest medical/nursing book (or internet) and look up pleural effusions. You'll soon realize you are as likely to catch an effusion as you are to catch a heart attack or cancer.

Hope this helps.

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Specializes in CCU (Coronary Care); Clinical Research.

We don't have any precautions for pleural effusions other than the standard precautions.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
We don't have any precautions for pleural effusions other than the standard precautions.

We don't either.

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Have never worked at a facility that has had one specific for the pleural effusion. It is not contagious, it is an accumulation of fluid in the lung.

Many times they are tapped to remove the extra fluid to make it easier for the patient to breathe, so unless the fluid has returned with a bacteria that the patient needs to be isolated for, the patient would just have routine universal protocol followed.

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

The only reason for such a policy could possibly (and erroneously) be the thought that a pleural effusion could be of M. tb origin. If the person also has pulmonary TB, a mask would be appropriate, but if it's just the effusion, Body Substance Isolation would be better.

Pleural effusions can also be the result of cancer, so again droplet precautions are unnecessary.

It's possible that your old institution had an outdated policy??

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