Separation of a patient from others to avoid spread of an infection or to protect him/her from certain environmental factors. The two most used types of isolationare:
- Infectious isolation: practice consisting of isolating to another area or ward a patient with a given virulent disease in order to reduce the risk of contact and extension of the disease to other patients and the personnel of the site. Gloves and a protective coat should be worn when coming in contact the patient.
- Reverse isolation: procedure designed to protect a patient from infectious microorganisms that may be carried by staff, other patients or visitors in drops of saliva expelled when speaking, present in the patient's environment, or in systems and materials of the site. Use of gloves, a protective coat, hand washing, shoe covers and sterilization or disinfection of materials introduced in the area is mandatory.