Barrier Nursing

 

Barrier Nursing

• Barrier nursing: The aim is to erect a barrier to the passage of infectious pathogenic organisms between the contagious patient and other patients and staff in the hospital. Preferably, all contagious patients are isolated in separate rooms, but when such patients must be nursed in a ward with others, screens are placed around the bed or beds they occupy.
• Cohort nursing may be practiced as re-infection with the same organism is unlikely.
• The nurses, attending consultants as also any visitors must wear gowns, masks, and sometimes rubber gloves and they observe strict rules that minimize the risk of passing on infectious agents. Hand hygiene practices are observed after they have been attending the patient.
• Bedding is carefully moved in order to minimize the transmission of airborne particles, such as dust or droplets that could carry contagious material.
• Barrier nursing must be continued until subsequent cultures give a negative report.