Gown use for isolation remains a judgment call

The question of gown use when entering patient isolation rooms is a recurrent one, so it is worth noting that this is the current thinking of The Joint Commission on the subject:

Standard IC.01.05.01 EP 1 states: "When developing infection prevention and control activities, the organization uses evidence-based national guidelines or, in the absence of such guidelines, expert consensus." The guideline that addresses contact precautions is published by the CDC's Healthcare Infection Control Practice Advisory Committee (HICPAC).

Recommendation V.B.3.b.i. from the HICPAC guideline states, "Wear a gown whenever anticipating that clothing will have direct contact with the patient or potentially contaminated environmental surfaces or equipment in close proximity to the patient. Don gown upon entry into the room or cubicle. Remove gown and observe hand hygiene before leaving the patient-care environment."

Each organization may decide what guidance to provide to its healthcare workers within the parameters provided by HICPAC. However, TJC encourages organizations to consider the high morbidity and mortality of healthcare-associated infections when deciding what constitutes "anticipated contact" in each facility. Organizations may also want to discourage non-essential personnel from entering the rooms of patients on isolation precautions.