Reviewing the efficacy of infection control isolation.
As part of a package of measures aimed at preventing cross-infection the isolation of patients in single rooms or through cohort nursing is a well-documented policy. However, the evidence base for an isolation policy is unclear it can cause logistical problems through inadequate resources and may result in physical, psychological and social harm to patients. Notwithstanding these problems, isolation can be said to have a practical utility in that it may impact on a nurses behaviour as they enact compliance as part of their infection control duties. It is nevertheless important for policymakers to note that it is not the location of the patient per se that is of primary importance in the transmission of contact spread organisms, but the behaviour of staff within the isolated environment.
University of Nottingham, Grantham & District Hospital, Lincolnshire.
Mark
M
Cole
Louise
L
Lai
D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006291:Health Policy; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010356:Patient Isolation / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D010362:Patients' Rooms; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006113:United Kingdom