Isolation ward (medicine)
Encyclopedia
In hospital
s and other medical facilities, an isolation ward is a separate ward used to isolate patients suffering from infectious
diseases. Several wards for individual patients are usually placed together in an isolation unit.
In an isolation unit, several measures must be implemented in order to reduce the spread of infection. The units are generally placed away from the main hospital, and staff often only work in that unit. In some hospitals, the unit is placed in a separate building. Ventilation is important to reduce the transmission of airborne spores, and the most severely affected patients are placed in separate wards. However, in some circumstances, especially in areas experiencing a major epidemic, makeshift isolation wards can be constructed.
to ebola
, although more precautions are generally taken with diseases of a higher mortality rate.
Outside major hospitals, isolation wards can be set up to control infection in crowded places, or those lacking substantial medical facilities. Many major passenger ships contain separate wards which can be converted for use in isolating patients.
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
s and other medical facilities, an isolation ward is a separate ward used to isolate patients suffering from infectious
Infection
An infection is the colonization of a host organism by parasite species. Infecting parasites seek to use the host's resources to reproduce, often resulting in disease...
diseases. Several wards for individual patients are usually placed together in an isolation unit.
Design
Use
Isolation wards are used to isolate patients who pose a risk of passing a potentially harmful infection on to others. Such infections can range in severity widely, from diseases such as influenzaInfluenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
to ebola
Ebola
Ebola virus disease is the name for the human disease which may be caused by any of the four known ebolaviruses. These four viruses are: Bundibugyo virus , Ebola virus , Sudan virus , and Taï Forest virus...
, although more precautions are generally taken with diseases of a higher mortality rate.
Outside major hospitals, isolation wards can be set up to control infection in crowded places, or those lacking substantial medical facilities. Many major passenger ships contain separate wards which can be converted for use in isolating patients.