THE OVERUSE OF SINGLE PATIENT ISOLATION IN HOSPITALS

Abstract

Hyams, P. J., and N. J. Ehrenkranz (Cedars of Lebanon Health Care Center, P.O. Box 520793, Miami, FL 33152). The overuse of single patient isolation in hospitals. Am J Epidemiol 106:325–329, 1977. Single patient isolation of adults to prevent spread of infection was studied in five high occupancy community hospitals. The acceptable standard was a guideline for isolation in hospitals, published by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Overusage of single patient isolation was found to vary between 4% and 96% of physician's isolation orders. Diagnoses of viral hepatitis, surgical wound infections, skin infections and respiratory infections accounted for the majority of overisolated patients. When infection control personnel rather than attending physicians determined the type and duration of isolation, a decrease in overisolation and a saving of patient (or third party payer) charges could be demonstrated. Reduction in overisolation does not bring about savings for hospitals unless bed occupancy is high and few single rooms are available. No evidence of cross-infection was observed in one hospital as a result of implementation of the CDC guidelines.