Current recommendations for isolation practices in nursing

Attitudes have changed drastically over the centuries towards people with infections and how to contain them. Only as we approach the end of the 20th century are we starting to base our practices on scientific evidence and not on ritual, although rational thought is still not found in many practices and confusion surrounds the terminology used. With the introduction of clinical governance, and the statutory duty of health organizations to provide a quality service for patients supported by evidence-based practice, this article discusses isolation practices.