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Isolation Procedures

Protective clothing (coveralls, shoe covers, gloves) shall be worn by all personnel entering this area.

• Traffic in the isolation ward shall be restricted to that necessary for optimal care.
• One kennel technician shall be assigned on a rotating basis for cleaning of the ward. Unless otherwise instructed, the technician will utilize the routine cleaning protocol. If a modification of this protocol is needed in order to ensure adequate killing of organisms, the clinician shall inform the nursing supervisor.
• To the extent possible, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures shall be performed in the ward. When procedures outside the ward are necessary, these procedures shall be cleared and scheduled with the responsible staff members to minimize contact with other patients, and to ensure complete decontamination following the procedure.
• Items brought into the isolation ward for care of the patient shall be disposed of following use, or shall be thoroughly cleaned (autoclaved) prior to returning to general use.
• Waste leaving the isolation area shall be double bagged, labeled, and transported directly for incineration.
• Patients in the isolation ward shall be examined and treated AFTER other hospitalized patients.
• If a patient with a disease requiring isolation is transferred from a regular ward to isolation, the cage previously occupied by that animal shall be thoroughly disinfected. If the patient had salmonellosis, the cage shall be demonstrated to be culture negative for Salmonella before being occupied by another patient.
• Patients with an infectious disease and/or zoonotic disease requiring isolation can be transferred to ICU with proper senior ICU clinician and Director of Clinical Services approval, otherwise all patients placed in isolation shall remain there until discharged.