Who is responsible for updating isolation precautions when a patient’s infection status changes?

• A. Administrative staff
• B. Security personnel
• C. Healthcare staff
• D. The patient

Answer: (C)

Healthcare staff are responsible for updating isolation precautions whenever a patient’s infection status changes. They are the ones directly monitoring the patient, reviewing test results and clinical signs, and determining when a different level of precautions is needed (for example, moving from standard to contact or airborne precautions). Once a change is identified, they implement it by adjusting the required PPE, updating room signage, and updating the patient’s medical record and orders, and they communicate the change to the rest of the care team. While infection prevention specialists provide guidelines and training, the day-to-day updates and actions come from the patient-care team. Administrative staff and security support policy and safety logistics, but do not manage the clinical updates to isolation status, and the patient cannot control these precautions.