Just a question about the use of isolation rooms. We have one in our unit and currently are using it only for a Hep B, Hep C patient. We have other patients who would do well in an isolation room for various reasons, ( MRSA, major Psych disorders) but our clinical educator says she is "pretty sure" you can't put other patients in a Hep B room. What do other units do ? I know a nearby unit puts all isolation patients in a dedicated room, (Hep B, shingles, MRSA). So is there a standard on this and where do I find it?
Thanks in advance.

I would recommend that you check out the CDC guidelines.

Your nurse educator is "pretty sure". Ah she better be sure. Your Must segregate Hepatitis B from all other patients in terms of equipment. you cannot run another patient on the machine....not even MRSA, shingles etc. Hep B is extremely virulent and as I am sure you know can lives for a long time outside the body. As for the room...you can run other patients in that room along as it has been 'terminially cleaned'. THis means every nook and cranny is scrub with a suitable disinfectant. Hep B should always be isolated. Hep C does not. HIV does not. etc....the CDC guidelines are you best bet.

quote:

Originally posted by tracy:
Your nurse educator is "pretty sure". Ah she better be sure. Your Must segregate Hepatitis B from all other patients in terms of equipment. you cannot run another patient on the machine....not even MRSA, shingles etc. Hep B is extremely virulent and as I am sure you know can lives for a long time outside the body. As for the room...you can run other patients in that room along as it has been 'terminially cleaned'. THis means every nook and cranny is scrub with a suitable disinfectant. Hep B should always be isolated. Hep C does not. HIV does not. etc....the CDC guidelines are you best bet.

Currently, our isolation room is being used for a strict contact isolation pt and a respiratory isolation. The MRSA's we have and the Hep B and HIV have their equipment bleached before using on the next pt unless we can make them the last run of the day. Of course their chair and tv get a thorough cleansing.