Blood and Marrow Transplantation Isolation Precautions
The team of the Blood and Marrow Transplantation (BMT) Program at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center provides this information about Isolation Precautions in their Family Handbook.
Rooms
- Anytime you enter a patient's room and exit a patient's room, you must wash your hands with soap and warm water or the waterless hand sanitizer.
- All newly admitted BMT patients are placed in rooms that are double HEPA filtered with positive airflow or in a negative airflow room if they have an infection.
- A doctor must give permission for a child to leave the room for any reason other than testing (for example, CT scans, X-rays).
- Out-of-room privileges will be based on your child's blood counts and physician discretion.
- Patients must wear N95 masks when outside of their room.
- A clean mat will be placed on the floor whenever a patient plays or has physical therapy on the floor.
Food
- Only patients are allowed to eat and drink in the room.
- Food and drinks should not be stored in the patient's room. A separate kitchen area is provided.
- Nutritional guidelines should be followed for the patient.
- Parents, grandparents and other visitors may eat and drink in the parent lounge only unless otherwise indicated by your child's physician.
Bathrooms
- Patients are to use their own bathrooms.
- Parents are to use the bathroom that is provided for them in the parent lounge area or family living area. Your nurse will make sure that you get a tour of these areas.
Strict Protective Isolation
- Your nurse will inform you if your child fits this description.
- Diligent hand washing is required.
- If your child fits this description, the following will apply to you and all visitors. All of the above protection, plus:
- Everyone must gown, glove and mask before entering your child's room. The gown, gloves and mask must be put into the trash on the way out of the room.
- You, as the primary caregiver, are not required to gown, glove and mask while in the room caring for your child.
No visitors under age 14 are allowed. Visitors must check in at the front desk to be screened for illnesses.Toy Care
- Toys should be washable. They should be wiped with disinfectant after each use. They should be washed in soapy water at least once a week. Another option is to place the toy on the top rack of your dishwasher and run it through the normal cycle.
- Water toys that have the potential of retaining water should be avoided completely.
- Stuffed toys should be avoided if possible; otherwise, they must be washed and dried in an automatic dryer once a week.
- Your child should be the only child playing with the toys, and they should remain in your child's room.
- All toys in your child's room must be picked up to allow for proper daily room cleaning.
