Isolation

Yes, I know it. You see it often but you don't know why and how. Plenty of ward doctors call the infection control specialist to ask whether to isolate the patients and what are the precaution. The following is a general information on isolation. The type is based on the transmission way of the germs. Remember: for all of below, it is important to keep in mind that the basic of all is still hand hygiene. All other measures such as masks and aprons are additional.

1. Source isolation (in Dutch: bronisolatie)
- These isolotion is aimed at preventing germs spread from the patients infected with these germs to other patients.
- The rooms are mostly put in under pressure (to 'suck away' the germs).
- It can be divided into:

1.a. Limited isolation (in Dutch: beperkte isolatie)
-  is used to protect the germs that can float in the air.
-  masker should be used and protective apron is advisable.
-  consists actually of two parts on how germs are transmitted:
Droplet:
germs float in the air not further than 1.5 metres from the source. Germs included: N. meningiditis and influenzae.
Airborne:
- germs included: chicken pox, measles and tuberculosis (these are small germs < 5um and can fly far far away than 1.5 meters).

1.b. Standard isolation (contact precaution)
- masker and single-use apron should be used.
- for infection that is caused by bacteria such as MRSA and C. difficile.

1.c. Strict isolation
- If you have this in your hospital, you might work in a specialized center.
- This isolation is aimed at very infectious diseases such as Marburg disease or Lassa fever.

2. Protective (reverse) isolation
- rooms are put in positive pressure (to 'blow away' germs from patients).
- to protect the immune compromised patients from germs originated from other patients and personnel.

Remember that every hospital with good functioning infection control team will have an intranet page where you can find the local practice for isolation depending on the germs.