To prevent the spread/transmission of infections to other patients, staff and the hospital environment, it is sometimes necessary to place patients in Isolation Precautions. This may mean relocating the patient to a special isolation room, with an Isolation Precautions sign placed at the entrance to alert all staff, doctors and visitors that they must wear a gown and gloves or a mask (depending on the infection or bacteria).

If a patient is placed in a room marked Isolation Precautions, visitors will be asked to follow the instructions of staff and may be asked to wear a gown, gloves, or mask, depending on the situation. It is important that the gown and gloves or mask are removed before the visitor leaves the room.

When leaving the isolation room, hands must be washed after the removal of gown and gloves (and mask as needed), which prevents the spread of infections into the hospital environment.

These precautions remain in place until there is no risk of the infection spreading to others.

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