What are the Enteric Precautions in the Hospital
Enteric precautions are guidelines for the care of a person who has or may have a stomach or intestinal illness (enteric disease). Following these guidelines helps prevent the disease from spreading to others.
A person can catch these diseases when bacteria enter the mouth. The bacteria spread through contact with a sick person’s stool (feces), which is often found on the hands. Bacteria can also spread through food or water that has bacteria in it (contaminatedfood or water).
Guidelines for patients
If you have an enteric disease, follow these guidelines during your hospital stay:
- Check with your nurse before you leave the room where you are being treated. You may need to stay isolated from other patients while you are sick.
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water. Wash for at least 15 seconds. Good hand hygiene is important to keep the disease from spreading.
Guidelines for visitors
If you are visiting a person who has an enteric disease, follow these guidelines:
- Check with a nurse before you enter a room that has a sign that says “enteric precautions.”
- If
you are allowed to enter the room, you will be asked to:
- Wash your hands with soap and water.
- Wear a gown and gloves. You may also need to wear protective goggles and a face mask.
- Once
you are in the room:
- Do not take off your gown or gloves until you are ready to leave.
- Do not eat or drink.
- Do not touch anything in the room unless you ask a nurse first.
- Right
before you leave the room, follow these steps in this order:
- Take off your gloves first.
- Take off your gown.
- Leave your gloves and gown in the room as told.
- Take off goggles and face mask and leave them in the room as told.
- Wash your hands with soap and warm water. Wash for at least 15 seconds.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are noteffective against enteric bacteria. Frequent hand washing with soap and water is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection.
Summary
- Enteric precautions are guidelines for the care of a person who has a stomach or intestinal illness (enteric disease).
- The bacteria can be found in a sick person’s stool (feces) and usually spread because of bad hand-washing hygiene.
- If you have an enteric disease, check with the nurse before you leave the room where you are being treated.
- If you are sick, wash your hands often with soap and warm water. Wash for at least 15 seconds.
- If you are visiting someone with an enteric disease, wear a gown and gloves while in the room. Remove the gown and gloves and wash your hands with soap and water before you leave the room.
