Less contact isolation is more in the ICU: not sure

Excerpt

The debate over the use of standard precautions (SPs) versus contact precautions (CPs) for stopping the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) has been controversial for years [1‐5] and still persists, despite recent high-quality cluster-randomized studies [6‐9]. SPs are based on a universal (also called “horizontal”) approach to all patients, whether or not they are known to be as MDRO carriers; SPs include compliance with hand hygiene and cleaning the environment. CPs with a so-called “vertical” approach still include compliance with SPs for all patients, additional control barriers for colonized patients, i.e. gloves and gown, and placement in a single room if possible. Identification of MDRO carriage through screening is frequently associated with CPs. …