Why Is This Resident In Isolation?

This post may contain affiliate links, and I will be compensated (at no extra cost to you) when you make a purchase by clicking on my links. 

A reader recently asked if I could talk about what’s happening when a resident at the nursing home requires isolation. This reader is a volunteer. She described coming to the nursing home and seeing people entering a resident’s room wearing yellow disposable gowns, gloves, and paper masks. The staff tells volunteers that they can’t go into the resident’s room.

There are many reasons a resident may require isolation. Usually, it’s done to help prevent the spread of a contagious disease. Sometimes, because of HIPAA regulations, staff can’t tell you the specific reason the resident needs to be in isolation.

A nursing home will only isolate a resident when they deem it to be necessary. That’s because isolation can be emotionally stressful for a person. However, it’s sometimes necessary to protect others, especially nursing home residents who may be medically fragile.

Today I’ll describe three examples of times when isolation may be necessary.

Norovirus

You’ve probably heard of this illness that’s often called the “cruise ship virus.” That’s because of its history of causing severe outbreaks of illness during cruises. The virus results in severe stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea.

This virus spreads through direct contact with an infected person or the ingestion of contaminated food or fluids. A person can also catch norovirus by touching a contaminated surface and then touching one’s mouth.

Unfortunately, no medication can cure norovirus, and there is no vaccination to prevent it. While a healthy person usually recovers within a few days, fragile nursing home residents may become very ill. Their most significant risk often involves dehydration.

Scabies

Scabies is caused by a tiny mite that burrows into the skin to lay eggs. As a result, the person develops a rash and intense itching. Scabies spreads through contact with the skin of an infected person. It can also spread through contact with items used by an infected person, such as clothing or bed linens.

I want to point out that if you hear that scabies are present in a nursing home, it doesn’t mean that the facility is dirty. There have been small outbreaks of scabies in two of the nursing homes where I’ve worked over the years, and they were very nice places.

I liken it to an outbreak of head lice in a school or a childcare center. Once a person unknowingly brings it into the building, it can spread quickly.

Treatment involves applying a prescription ointment or cream to the skin. Special cleaning techniques are also necessary to kill any remaining mites or their eggs.

Multi-drug-resistant organisms

These illnesses involve bacteria that have become resistant to popular antibiotics. You may have heard of two of the most common ones: MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) and VRE (Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci).

Many healthy people carry these bacteria on their skin or in their nasal passages while showing no signs of illness. However, especially if a person is immune-compromised, these bacteria can cause dangerous or even deadly illnesses. These may include infections in open wounds, in the lungs, or in the blood.

While there are still some antibiotics available to treat these infections, the bacteria continue to adapt and develop resistance. That’s why physicians are becoming increasingly cautious about prescribing antibiotics for less severe infections.

 

I can’t tell you precisely what isolation will be like when a resident has one of these illnesses. That’s because it will depend on the condition affecting the individual resident. Plus, each nursing home has its own specific isolation protocols.

However, I can tell you one thing each of us can do to help prevent these and other infections from spreading. Wash our hands! Most of us probably don’t wash our hands as often or as thoroughly as we should. You can find out more in this article.

 

What other questions do you have about isolation precautions in the nursing home? Please let me know in the comment section.