Triage, Risk Assessment, and Patient Placement
The aim of the triage system is to risk assess patients for infection, and it is usually done in the Emergency Department. 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 tagged with an appropriate warning sticker. The details are also flagged in the hospital’s computer system so they can be easily identified and rapidly isolated on subsequent admission.
Literature Review: Patient Placement, Isolation and Cohorting: Standard Infection Prevention & Control and Transmission Based Infection Control Precautions. Glasgow: Health Protection Scotland: September 2018.