Sterile Procedures
LESSON 5: Isolation
5-3
Section II. ISOLATION TECHNIQUES
5-3. GENERAL
The basic purpose of isolation is to minimize the spread of communicable diseases. The physician determines whether or not isolation is needed. Once the need for isolation has been determined, the responsibility for maintaining good isolation techniques belongs to everyone involved--from the physician to housekeeping personnel to the patient himself. Care for the patient in isolation is basically the same as for other patients, but there is an increased emphasis on the principles of medical asepsis.
a. The needs of a patient in isolation should not be ignored just because of the isolation. The needs of the isolated patient are just as important as the needs of other patients.
b. The basic principles that apply to patients in isolation are discussed in the following paragraphs.
