Question

What is the proper way to remove linen and other items from the room of a patient who is in isolation?

a. bag items once in the room, and then place them in second bag held outside the room
b. hand them to a coworker in the hall who does not enter the room
c. double-bag items before leaving the room
d. dispose of items in special medical waste containers kept in the room

Answer 1

To remove linen and other items from an isolation room, double-bag them before leaving the room and dispose of them according to biohazard waste management procedures. Wear protective clothing and practice hand hygiene.

Step-by-step explanation:

When handling linen and other items in the room of a patient who is in isolation, it's essential to follow strict protocols to prevent the spread of infection. The proper way to remove such items is to double-bag them before leaving the room (option c). This means placing the contaminated items into a bag within the isolation room, then sealing that bag and placing it into another clean bag outside the room, which reduces the risk of contaminating other areas. After double-bagging, the items should be disposed of according to the facility's biohazard waste management procedures, often involving incineration or autoclaving.

Personnel must always wear protective clothing and practice vigorous hand washing after handling potentially contaminated items. Moreover, all surfaces and equipment that come into contact with the isolated patient must be disinfected properly to ensure the safety of healthcare workers and other patients.