Title: Differentiate between isolation techniques and practices.
Course: Medical Assistant I (14151-I) > Section: Maintaining Medical and Surgical Asepsis

Differentiation should include

- description of techniques to reduce the spread of infection
- transmission-based precautions (e.g., solation measures to prevent the spread of infection)
- the importance of each technique.

Isolation procedures include PPE as it applies to the CDC regulations on disease processes, such as

- putting on and taking off gown, mask, and gloves in the correct order to ensure that a clean technique is used throughout the process and the healthcare worker does not contaminate himself/herself
- identifying CDC categories for specific PPE
- identifying examples of communicable disease
  - respiratory
  - excessive bleeding
  - open lesions
  - gastric
  - discharge (i.e., eye, nose).

Teacher Resource:

- Guidance on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Process/Skill Questions:

- What is the role of standard precautions in medical asepsis? Of blood-borne pathogen guidelines?
- Why is PPE important to all health care workers?
- Why are high efficiency particle absorbing (HEPA) masks essential PPE for healthcare workers?
- What are the consequences of not employing PPE practices both to the healthcare professional and to the patient?