Isolation Precautions
Standard, contact, droplet and airborne precautions — what each requires and when.
CARE Nursing · carenursingprep.com
Isolation Precautions
Standard precautions
| Applies to | Everyone, every timeRegardless of diagnosis or suspected infection status. |
|---|---|
| Treats as infectious | All blood and body fluids except sweat |
| Core practices | Hand hygiene · PPE matched to the anticipated exposure · safe sharps handling · respiratory etiquette |
Transmission-based precautions
| Contact | Gown + gloves on room entrySpread by touch. Private room preferred. |
|---|---|
| Droplet | Surgical mask + private roomLarge droplets fall quickly and do not stay suspended, so a surgical mask suffices. |
| Airborne | Fit-tested N95 or higher + negative-pressure roomSmall particles stay suspended and travel on air currents. |
| Protective environment | Positive-pressure roomProtects a severely immunocompromised patient FROM the environment — the opposite direction to the others. |
Points that are commonly missed
| Alcohol rub vs soap | Soap and water for visibly soiled hands, and for spore-forming organismsAlcohol does not kill spores. |
|---|---|
| Gloves and hand hygiene | Hand hygiene before AND after glovesGloves can have unseen defects, and hands are contaminated during removal. |
| Transporting an airborne patient | The PATIENT wears a surgical maskContaining the source is the priority in a corridor. |
Educational reference. Follow your facility's own isolation policy, which governs in practice.