New Standard & Isolation Precautions Policy has launched

By Liz Withers, MD, MBA, Good Samaritan Hospital Chief Medical Officer

Our new enterprise-wide Standard and Isolation Precautions Policy is now in effect. Please review the policy and supporting documentation below to ensure you're ordering the correct precautions for your patients.

Key takeaways:

• We no longer isolate patients positive for ESBL. 

• Shingles does not require isolation precautions if localized. Standard precautions will be followed as applicable. 

  • Shingles is considered disseminated if two or more noncontiguous dermatomes are affected. For disseminated shingles, airborne and contact precautions are required until lesions are dry and crusted. 

• A new class of precautions was created for COVID-19-positive patients called “Respiratory Enhanced.” This is similar to airborne precautions but does not require an AIIR or negative-pressure room.

Thank you for reviewing this policy and valuable supporting information, and for providing the safest-possible care to our patients.