What is one important action health care workers can take to decrease the spread of infection with patients in isolation?

a. Refuse to perform survival procedures on isolation patients until the precaution has been lifted.
b. Perform procedures on immunosuppressed patients on weekends and during late shifts.
c. Explain to patients in isolation that they have contaminated body fluids that cannot be tolerated by the health care workers caring for them.
d. Perform handwashing before and after close patient contact and in between patients.

ANS: D
In all types of isolation, the most important control measure is thorough handwashing before and after close patient contact; after handling contaminated objects, body fluids, and excretions; and between patients. Isolation techniques must not be implemented in a way that causes the patient to feel victimized. Patients should be educated to understand that the isolation protects them as well as the caregiver, and they must comply with the regimen.