Triage, Risk Assessment, and Patient Placement
The aim of the triage system is to risk assess patients who require immediate medical attention and identify patients with suspected infections and/or multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). This is usually done in the Emergency Department so that appropriate patient placements can be implemented to prevent cross-infection and outbreaks. However, patients also need a risk assessment in inpatient, outpatient, and care homes so that infection can be promptly identified and appropriate infection prevention and control precautions (IPC) rapidly implemented. In addition, the risk should be continuously reviewed throughout their stay in a healthcare facility.
Patients who may present a cross-infection risk include those with diarrhoea and/or vomiting, an unexplained rash and/or fever, patients with respiratory symptoms, and those who have been in a hospital in the UK or abroad.
It is important] that all known positive patients with MDROs (MRSA, CPE, etc.) and transmissible infections (C. difficile, etc) have their medical notes flagged in the hospital’s computer system so they can be easily identified and rapidly isolated on subsequent admission.
Literature Review: