Source isolation

Patients with some infections are routinely cared for ‘in isolation’ to help prevent the spread of infection to other patients. Commonly involves use of physical boundaries by caring for a patient in a side room to the main ward. Staff wear additional personal protective equipment and undertake appropriate hand washing before leaving the area. Side rooms may display alert notices and use directional airflow. Some immunosuppressed patients require ‘reverse isolation’ to protect them from picking up infections from other patients.