While you are in isolation - patient information leaflet

How can I help reduce healthcare associatedinfections?Infection prevention & control is important to the well-being of ourpatients and for that reason we have infection prevention & controlprocedures in place. Keeping your hands clean is an effective wayof preventing the spread of infections. We ask that you, and anyonevisiting you, use the hand sanitiser available at the main entrance ofthe hospital and at the entrance to every ward before coming in toand after leaving the ward or hospital. In some situations hands mayneed to be washed at the sink using soap and water rather thanusing the hand sanitiser as hand sanitisers are not suitable for usewhen dealing with patients who have symptoms of diarrhoea.For infection prevention & control purposes and to keep you safe andwell visitors are requested not to:• Visit you if they are unwell• Sit on your bed or use the patient toilets.• Touch your wounds, or any medical devices, drips orcatheters.How can I find out more?Contact the Infection Prevention & Control Department on:Wycombe Hospital Tel: 01494 425456Stoke Mandeville Hospital Tel: 01296 315337Health Protection Agency Tel: 0845 279 9879Health Protection Agency Website: http://www.hpa.org.ukWhile You Are In IsolationInformation leaflet for patients & visitorswww.buckshealthcare.nhs.ukIf you require a translation of this leaflet please call InfectionPrevention & Control.Issue date: October 2006 Author: Infection Prevention & Control TeamRevised date: March 2011 Leaflet code: IPCT Isolation V1.2Review date: March 2013

Why do I need to be isolated?Bacteria and viruses can cause a variety of human infections.These can sometimes cause problems in hospitals, therefore,special care is needed to reduce the risk of spreading infection toother patients and staff. Some patients are also more at risk ofinfection because of their illness and need to be in isolation tohelp protect them from catching infections.What is isolation?Sometimes it is necessary to move patients to a single room,(which may have its own toilet/washing facilities) or to adedicated bay in a ward (sometimes called a cohort bay). This isoften referred to as ‘isolation’. Being in isolation allows healthcare workers to reduce the risk of spreading any infection to youor other patients. Staff may wear gloves, aprons and/or masksdepending on the reason you are being isolated. The staff willexplain this to you. Please feel free to ask staff if you would likemore information about any aspects of your care.How is infection spread?The risk of acquiring or spreading infection can be higher whileyou are in hospital. This is because of the frequent contact youwill have with health care workers and hospital environment.Other patients may also act as a source of infection.Contaminated hands are the most common way that infection isspread. To prevent this you will see health care workers washinghands, wearing gloves and using hand sanitiser to reduce therisk of passing on infections. Please read the hand hygieneleaflet for further information.Can I have visitors?Visitors must speak to the nurse looking after you before visiting.The nurse will advise on any extra care your visitors may needto take before entering your room.If visitors are having close contact with patients (e.g. helpingwith washing and dressing) it is suggested that gloves andaprons are worn. Other personal protective equipment may berequired depending on the reason for your isolation, the nursewill advise you of this. Visitors should wash their hands withsoap and water or use the hand sanitiser when they havefinished visiting you.Can I leave the room?This will depend on why you are in isolation. The InfectionPrevention & Control Team will have advised the ward staff ofany extra care that is required should you need to visit any otherdepartments. Being in isolation will not affect the care youreceive.Will my discharge from hospital be delayed?Usually there will be no delay if you are returning to your ownhome.It should not usually stop you going into a nursing or residentialhome, where, although you may have a single room, you shouldbe able to mix freely with most other residents.If you need to be transferred to another hospital, you mayexperience a slight delay as the hospital may want to place youin a single room and this could take time to organise.What happens when I get home?When you go home you should live your life as normally aspossible. It is very unusual that any special care will berequired when you go home. However if any is necessary thestaff will discuss this with you before you are discharged. Afteryou have gone home you can contact your G.P. for furtheradvice if needed.2 3