title: [Evolution of isolation in communicable diseases: knowledge in contemporary practice].
abstract: The identification of new infectious agents and the ever increasing expansion of known infections and diseases have been stimulating the revision of biosafety measures in the activities of professional health care workers. In the present article, the evolution of knowledge and practices of isolation and precautions were reviewed, which allowed us to recover the concepts and the interventions that were formulated and implemented. Since the beginning of the modern nursing, in the XIX century, the elements of the isolation practice for contagious diseases have remained basically the same. In other words, the emphasis on the use of mechanical, chemical and environmental barriers are given, based on inherent specificities of each part of the infectious chain process.
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem da USP (EEUSP). izumi@usp.br
authors.forename: Lúcia Yasuko Izumi
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Nichiata
authors.forename: Elucir
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gir
authors.forename: Renata Ferreira
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Suely Itsuko
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Ciosak
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D010356:Patient Isolation