Isolation ward

In hospitals and other medical facilities, an isolation ward is a separate ward used to isolate patients suffering from infectious diseases. Several wards for individual patients are usually placed together in an isolation unit.

Design

The isolation ward of Gulu Municipal Hospital, Gulu, Uganda, during an outbreak of Ebola hemorrhagic fever in October 2000

In an isolation unit, several measures must be implemented in order to reduce the spread of infection. The units are generally placed away from the main hospital, and staff often only work in that unit. In some hospitals, the unit is placed in a separate building. Ventilation is important to reduce the transmission of airborne spores, and the most severely affected patients are placed in separate wards.[1][2] However, in some circumstances, especially in areas experiencing a major epidemic, makeshift isolation wards can be constructed.[3]

Use

Isolation wards are used to isolate patients who pose a risk of passing a potentially harmful infection on to others. Such infections can range in severity widely, from diseases such as influenza to ebola, although more precautions are generally taken with diseases of a higher mortality rate. Outside major hospitals, isolation wards can be set up to control infection in crowded places, or those lacking substantial medical facilities.[3] Many major passenger ships contain separate wards which can be converted for use in isolating patients.[4][5]

References

  1. ↑ Lt Col SKM Rao. 2004 Medical Journal Armed Forces India "Designing Hospital for better Infection Control:an Experience"
  2. ↑ K D Bagshawe; R Blowers; O M Lidwell (1978)"Isolating patients in hospital to control infection. Part III--Design and construction of isolation accommodation." British Medical Journal
  3. 1 2 Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2009 Infection control during filoviral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks: preferences of community members and health workers in Masindi, Uganda
  4. ↑ World Health Organisation Recommended procedures for prevention and management of probable cases of SARS on International Cruise Vessels 4 June 2003
  5. ↑ Marjo Hallowell 2009Cruise is over at first port as hundreds fall prey to illness

See also

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