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Variability of Contact Precaution Policies in US Emergency Departments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 May 2016

Daniel J. Pallin ,
Carlos A. Camargo Jr. ,
Deborah S. Yokoe ,
Janice A. Espinola  and
Jeremiah D. Schuur
Daniel J. Pallin*
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
Carlos A. Camargo Jr.
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
Deborah S. Yokoe
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
Janice A. Espinola
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
Jeremiah D. Schuur
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
*
75 Francis Street, Neville House 304-D, Boston, MA 02115 (dpallin@partners.org)
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Abstract

Contact precautions policies in US emergency departments have not been studied. We surveyed a structured random sample and found wide variation; for example, 45% required contact precautions for stool incontinence or diarrhea, 84% for suspected Clostridium difficile, and 79% for suspected methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection. Emergency medicine departments and organizations should enact policies.

Type
Concise Communication
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 35 , Issue 3 , March 2014 , pp. 310 - 312
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2014

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