Contact Isolation Precautions for Ambulatory Oncology Patients Positive for Antibiotic Resistant Organisms: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines
Rapid Response Report: Summary with Critical Appraisal
When providing ambulatory care to oncology patients that are known to be infected or colonized with antibiotic resistant organisms (AROs), it is important that adequate precaution be taken to reduce transmission risk. It is unclear, however, if Standard Precautions are sufficient or whether additional precautions, such as Contact Precautions are required. Contact Precautions may include prioritizing placement of the patient into an exam room, use of additional personal protective equipment, additional hand hygiene, and other precautions that extend beyond Standard Precautions. This report sought to review the current literature evaluating the effectiveness of contact isolation precautions versus routine infection prevention practices for ambulatory oncology patients infected or colonized with AROs and evidence-based guidelines regarding the use of contact isolation precautions for ambulatory oncology patients infected or colonized with AROs.
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