Contact Precautions: More Is Not Necessarily Better
Contact Precautions: More Is Not Necessarily Better
The data regarding use of routine contact precautions to reduce the spread of MDROs in endemic, nonoutbreak settings are conflicting. Several studies have reported that in some instances, contact isolation may be detrimental to the care of patients because of decreased number of visits and time spent with patients by healthcare providers and the increased psychological stress experienced by these patients. Providers and hospital administrators have to weigh these adverse effects of contact precautions against the potential for reducing the spread of MDROs in the hospital. On the basis of the results from this study, providers and infection control programs should consider the negative impact of the burden of isolation on compliance with contact isolation precautions when developing infection control policies and practices. Indiscriminately placing patients in contact precautions might have the adverse effect of decreasing the efficacy of contact isolation precautions in controlling the spread of MDROs. A burden of isolation of 40% may represent a tipping point, above which compliance with contact isolation precautions drops significantly.
Conclusion
The data regarding use of routine contact precautions to reduce the spread of MDROs in endemic, nonoutbreak settings are conflicting. Several studies have reported that in some instances, contact isolation may be detrimental to the care of patients because of decreased number of visits and time spent with patients by healthcare providers and the increased psychological stress experienced by these patients. Providers and hospital administrators have to weigh these adverse effects of contact precautions against the potential for reducing the spread of MDROs in the hospital. On the basis of the results from this study, providers and infection control programs should consider the negative impact of the burden of isolation on compliance with contact isolation precautions when developing infection control policies and practices. Indiscriminately placing patients in contact precautions might have the adverse effect of decreasing the efficacy of contact isolation precautions in controlling the spread of MDROs. A burden of isolation of 40% may represent a tipping point, above which compliance with contact isolation precautions drops significantly.