Isolation ICU
Some critically ill patients carry an infection that must not spread. Isolation intensive care gives them the same monitoring and organ support as any other bed, in a space that can be closed off, with staff who change protection between patients.
- Full intensive care with isolation
- Separate protective equipment protocols
- Same monitoring and organ support
- Family contact arranged, not cancelled
Stay
As long as intensive care and isolation are needed
Duration
Continuous care
Anaesthesia
Sedation while ventilated
About Isolation ICU
Isolation is used for patients with airborne or highly transmissible infection, and for patients carrying drug-resistant organisms. The clinical care does not change: the same ventilators, monitoring and nursing ratios apply. What changes is the physical separation, the protective equipment and the movement of staff and equipment between areas.
- Clinical care is identical to any other intensive care bed
- Isolation protects other patients as much as staff
- Drug-resistant organisms are a common reason, not only new infections
- Family contact is arranged differently rather than stopped
Before you read on
Everything here is general information about isolation icu. Whether it suits you, and how it would be done in your case, is a decision for your doctor after examining you.
Your consultant's instructions always take precedence over anything written on this page.
When is it recommended?
Situations in which a doctor may suggest isolation icu.
- Critically ill patients with airborne infection
- Patients carrying drug-resistant organisms
- Suspected transmissible infection pending results
- Severely immunosuppressed patients needing protection themselves
- Any critical illness where transmission risk is identified
Procedure details
The usual sequence, from first consultation through to follow-up.
Assessment and placement
The infection risk is assessed and the patient placed in an isolation bed, with the reason explained to the family.
Full intensive care
Ventilation, monitoring, dialysis and all other support are provided exactly as in any other intensive care bed.
Protective protocols
Staff use specific protective equipment, and equipment is dedicated to the bed space rather than shared.
Review of isolation
The need for isolation is reviewed as results return, and it is lifted as soon as it is no longer required.
How to prepare
What to sort out before you come in.
- Tell the team about recent hospital admissions elsewhere, which affect resistant organism risk
- Mention recent travel or contact with infectious illness
- Family should expect visiting to be arranged differently, with protective equipment
- Bring a phone, as video contact is often the main way families stay in touch
- Ask what the isolation is for and when it will be reviewed
Recovery
What to expect afterwards, and roughly when.
- Recovery follows the same course as any critical illness
- Isolation is lifted as soon as results or clinical improvement allow
- Some organisms require isolation to continue on the ward after intensive care
- Families are supported to maintain contact throughout
- Follow-up after discharge is the same as for any intensive care stay
Why choose Humayun for isolation intensive care
Isolation must not mean a lower standard of care, and infection control in intensive care protects everyone in it.
- The same monitoring, ventilation and nursing ratios as any other intensive care bed
- Dedicated equipment rather than equipment shared between bed spaces
- Isolation reviewed as results return rather than continued by default
- Family contact arranged rather than cancelled, including video where visiting is restricted
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