Transmission-Based Precautions should be used when standard precautions alone are insufficient to interrupt the transmission of a microorganism. Transmission-Based Precautions are to be applied in addition to standard precautions.
There are three types of Transmission-Based Precautions, tailored to the different forms of transmission;
Contact precautions
Contact precautions, when used with standard precautions, are designed to reduce the risk of transmission of microorganisms by direct and/or indirect contact. Perform a risk assessment based on patients' communicability or risk of transmitting infection to others and to healthcare workers.
Contact precautions should be considered for patients colonised or infected with a multi-resistant organism (MRO) where there is significant patient and/or environmental contact.
Assessment of the patient's risk factors that potentially contribute to the spread of organisms in addition to local epidemiology will guide clinicians to whether patients require contact precautions with isolation, cohorting or management using standard precautions.
Contact precautions consist of:
Before entering patient zone
- Perform hand hygiene
- Preform a risk assessment on the need for apron/gown i.e. type of patient contact (contact with body substance), type of MRO (new or emerging), patient status (wet or dry).
After entering patient zone
- Perform hand hygiene
- Perform a risk assessment on the need for gloves i.e. type of patient contact (contact with body substance), type of MRO (new or emerging), and patient status (wet or dry)
- Change or remove glove (if worn) and perform hand hygiene in between dirty and clean task.
On leaving patient zone
- Remove and dispose gloves (if worn)
- Perform hand hygiene
- Dispose apron/gown (if worn)
- Perform hand hygiene
- Clean shared equipment (if used) and perform hand hygiene.
When transporting patient outside of the room remove PPE and perform hand hygiene after placing patient on trolley/stretcher/wheelchair.
Use patient-dedicated or single-use non-critical patient-care equipment.
Ensure consistent cleaning and disinfection of surfaces in close proximity to the patient and those likely to be touched by the patient and healthcare workers..
Droplet precautions
Droplet precautions should be employed in addition to standard precautions when caring for any patient known to be or suspected of being infected with a microorganism that can be transmitted by the respiratory droplet transmission route.
Specific requirements for droplet precautions are:
- Preferentially, the patient should be placed in a single room with ensuite bathroom. If not possible, the patient should be cohorted with patients infected or colonised with same microorganism and have access to a designated bathroom. Maintain a spatial separation of greater than 2.4 m between mid-points of the beds in cohorted patients or draw bed curtains between patients to impede the direct spread of droplets and space beds at least 2.4m apart.
- HWs are to wear a disposable fluid repellent level 1 or level 2 surgical mask. Masks should be removed and disposed of on leaving the patient's zone (e.g. at the door, curtain or the anteroom) and perform hand hygiene
- Protective eyewear (goggles or face shield) is to be worn as part of standard precautions.
If a patient who is being cared for under droplet precautions requires an aerosol generating procedure (AGP), this procedure should be undertaken in a dedicated treatment room away from other patients. If aerosol generating-procedures are anticipated, a P2/N95 mask should be worn by attending HWs.
Protective eyewear should be worn as part of standard precautions. The following should be adhered to when managing patients on droplet precautions;
- Symptomatic patient should be transported of their own or with patients infected or colonised with same microorganism.
- If clinically able, patient should wear surgical mask when outside of the usual patient zone (including outpatient and emergency settings).
- Depending on the microorganism, disinfection may be required in addition to cleaning.
- Visitors are recommended to wear a surgical mask if within 1m of patient and practice hand hygiene.
- Use droplet precautions signage at entrance of patient's zone.
Given that droplets do not remain suspended in the air, special air handling and ventilation is not required under droplet precautions.
Airborne precautions
Airborne precautions are designed to interrupt the airborne transmission route. Airborne precautions should be employed in addition to standard precautions when caring for patients who are known or suspected to be infected with a microorganism that can be transmitted by the airborne route.
Specific requirements for airborne precautions are:
- The patient should be placed in a negatively pressurised single room with ensuite bathroom. If not possible, place the patient in a single room with door should be closed at all times. In this second instance, the patient should have access to an ensuite or designated bathroom. HWs are to wear a P2/N95 mask on entering the patient's zone. P2/N95 masks require a proper seal to the face and all HWs are to be instructed on fit check of a P2/N95 mask. Masks should be removed and disposed in the anteroom or outside the patient's room.
- Visitors are recommended to wear a surgical mask. P2/N95 respirators may be an alternative, but must be accompanied with training and fit checking. P2/N95 mask requires a proper seal to the face and instruction should be given on how to perform a fit check. This should include a demonstration of donning, removing and disposing of PPE in addition to hand hygiene.
- Patients in airborne precautions are to be transported or transferred on their own.
- If the patient can tolerate wearing a surgical mask, this should be worn when outside of the isolation zone (including transport, outpatient and emergency settings). Patients are never to wear a P2/N95 mask.
- Depending on the microorganism, disinfection may be required in addition to cleaning.
- Protective eyewear should be worn as part of standard precautions
- Adequate time must be allowed after patient discharge or transfer for removal of at least 99% of airborne contaminants. This time period will vary; depending on the amount of air exhausted from the room, room air mixing, and the size of the room
- P2/N95 mask should be worn by all HWs entering these rooms until terminal cleaning is completed and the time period has elapsed.
For further information visit ACSQHC - 6.4 Type and duration of precautions for specific infections and conditions. Please see the Resources page for signs and posters.
Doctors, nurses and other health care workers must always use standard precautions (good hand washing prior to entering your child’s room and after leaving your child’s room) to limit the risk of spreading infections. Health care workers may use gloves, gowns, masks, eye protection or face shields when taking care of your child.
These precautions are required by Federal law at all hospitals to protect patients as well as health care workers.
Transmission-based precautions (isolation) are used along with standard precautions when the spread of infection might not be completely stopped when using only standard precautions.
- The purpose of these precautions is to keep germs from spreading from your child to other patients, family members, visitors or healthcare workers. When these precautions are not followed, germs could spread to other people, making them very sick.
- Sometimes children will be placed in more than one level of precaution. In this case, both precautions must be followed. For example, if your child is on contact and airborne precautions, the precautions would include a gown, gloves, and a mask.
Airborne precautions are used when germs, such as the kind that cause tuberculosis (TB) and chickenpox, can be spread through the air from one person to another. Your child may be placed on airborne precautions as a safety measure if he or she has symptoms of these germs or if laboratory results show that your child has these germs.
Your child may need to stay in airborne precautions even if he or she seems to be well. This is because some germs can still be spread to other people from your child. Your child will need to stay in his or her room unless taken out of the room by a staff member for testing or procedures.
Airborne precautions can be frustrating for a child. A child life specialist may help by providing play activities.
Ways you can help your child:
- Spend as much time as possible with your child or have a family member or friend stay.
- Activities such as reading, playing games, music, puppet play, drawing, painting pictures, puzzles and looking at family pictures.
What Airborne Precautions Means
Either a purple or gold sign will be posted at the entrance to the room when these precautions are needed so that everyone entering knows what to wear (Picture 1).
Everyone (parents, family, guests, and healthcare workers) must wash their hands with soap and water or use waterless alcohol-based hand rub when entering and leaving the room.
- The door must be closed unless you are entering or exiting the room.
- A mask MUST be worn by everyone in your child’s room.
Masks
- Masks must be worn by all persons entering your child’s room.
- The mask must cover both your nose and mouth.
- Whenever you leave your child’s room, throw away used masks in the trash can inside his room. Do not touch the mask itself. Handle it only by the ear loops or ties.
- When your mask becomes damp replace it with a new one.
Hand Hygiene
Hand hygiene involves either washing hands with soap and water or killing germs on the hands with a waterless alcohol-based hand rub. Proper hand hygiene is one of the best ways to stop the spread of germs and prevent infections. To prevent your child or yourself from getting unwanted germs, wash hands with soap and water or use a waterless alcohol-based hand rub every time you enter and leave the room.
Wash your hands with soap and water at these times:
- Before eating
- When hands have dirt on them
- After changing diapers
- After using the restroom
- After contact
To Use the Waterless Alcohol-based Hand Rub:
- Apply the rub to the palms of your hands.
- Rub your hands together covering all surfaces.
- Rub until your hands are dry.
All doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers know they must perform proper hand hygiene before and after touching a patient, after contact with items near the patient, before putting on gloves for a sterile procedure and after removing gloves. It is all right for you to remind them to perform hand hygiene.
Before You Leave Your Child’s Room
- Remove the mask.
- Perform hand hygiene.
Parents Who Have Symptoms of TB:
- Must put on a new mask and wear it whenever they are entering the hospital.
- When coming to the hospital to visit, go directly to your child’s room.
- May not leave the room for any reason, except to leave the hospital.
- If your child is on Airborne Precautions, before leaving your child’s room you must:
- Remove your mask and throw it away in the trash can in your child’s room.
- Wash your hands.
- Put on a new mask to wear outside your child’s room to leave the hospital.
- To protect others from TB, there may be times that you will not be allowed to visit.
If you have any questions, be sure to ask a member of your child’s healthcare team.
Airborne Precautions (PDF)
HH-II-177 8/08, Revised 8/17 Copyright 2008, Nationwide Children’s Hospital