Patient placement or assessment of infection risk

Key points

• Assess all patients on admission for infection risk and complete the infection control admission risk assessment which is under corporate templates on the clinical tree in SystmOne.
• Continue to review infection risk throughout the admission.
• Inform the IPC team of any patients requiring specific placement (isolation) for infection reasons:
  • Email: rdash.ipcteam@nhs.net
  • Telephone: 03000 214872
• Seek advice from the IPC team if the patient cannot or will not isolate.
• Isolate for the shortest possible time to avoid a deterioration in the patients mental health and review regularly.

Categories of isolation

• Source isolation, the infectious or colonised patient is isolated to prevent cross infection to other non-affected individuals.
• Protective isolation, this is used to protect a susceptible patient where their immune system is compromised to avoid infection from others.

Priority for a single room

• Patients with airborne transmissible infections such as influenza, SARS-CoV-2, chickenpox, measles and so on.
• Patients with, or suspected infection, colonisation with multiple antibiotic resistant organisms.
• Diarrhoea or vomiting.
• Patients with MRSA in sputum who are coughing or have exfoliating skin conditions.

IPC precautions

• Refer to NIPCM for guidance relating to transmission based precautions.
• Ensure doors to isolation rooms are kept closed. If patient safety is compromised, a documented risk assessment must be completed and reviewed at every shift.
• Ensure appropriate signage is displayed on the door to the isolation room/bay without compromising patient confidentiality.
• Ensure adequate provision and appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Only cohort nurse for the shortest possible time to minimise risk of re-infection or re-colonisation.
• Avoid moving patients unless clinically necessary.
• Avoid non-essential treatments, therapies and appointments. For urgent, essential treatments the receiving organisation/department and transport provider must be informed that isolation precautions are in place.
• Undertake a terminal clean of rooms once isolation is completed or the patient is discharged or transferred elsewhere.

Refer to quick guide:

• Terminal cleaning guide or checklist

Please see infection prevention and control manual webpage for supporting documents attached to this procedure as follows:

• chlor-clean poster
• isolation poster
• isolation room cleaning checklist

Page last reviewed: May 21, 2024
Next review due: May 21, 2025