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Copyright © 2015 All rights reserved
Source
Munoz-Price LS, Banach DB, Bearman G et al. SHEA Expert Guidance: Isolation Precautions
for Visitors.
Disclaimer
is Guideline attempts to define principles of practice that should produce high-quality patient care. It focuses
on the needs of primary care practice, but also is applicable to providers at all levels.
is Guideline should not be considered exclusive of other methods of care reasonably directed at obtaining the
same results. e ultimate judgment concerning the propriety of any course of conduct must be made by the
clinician aer consideration of each individual patient situation.
Neither IGC, the medical associations, nor the authors endorse any product or service associated with the distributor
of this clinical reference tool.
Abbreviations
CRE, carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae; HCP, health care personnel; KPC, Klebsiella
pneumoniae carbapenemase; MRSA, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus; SHEA, Society
for Healthcare Epidemiolog y of America; VRE, vancomycin resistant enterococci
SHEAISO15042a
Airborne Precautions
Î For visitors to patients on airborne precautions we recommend the use
of surgical masks. An alternative is an N-95 respirator; however, this
equipment is best used with training and fit testing.
Notes:
▶ Visitors with extensive documented exposure to the symptomatic patient prior to
hospitalization, such as household contacts, may be excluded from these precautions since
they may be either immune to the infectious agent or already in the incubation period.
▶ When prior extensive exposure is not documented and N-95 or higher respiratory
protection is recommended for the patient, consideration should be given to limiting
visitation for those who have not been fit-tested. In these instances, education of visitors is
important, and facilities should clearly document these communications.
▶ As previously noted in the recommendations for droplet precautions, further considerations
should include interference with bonding.
▶ Hospitals should consider restricting entry of visitors that are symptomatic (e.g. active
cough, fever).
Recommendations
