Visitor restriction policies and practices vary in scope, implementation and physician awareness across pediatric facilities, according to a study published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.
Researchers from the Infectious Diseases Society of America Emerging Infections Network conducted an electronic survey, polling 334 pediatric infectious disease consultants. In all, 170 respondents completed the survey between July 12 and Aug. 15, 2016.
Here are five survey findings:
1. Around 61 percent of respondents were familiar with their facilities' visitor restriction policies and practices, of which 88 percent said their facilities had those policies and practices in all inpatient units.
2. The most common types of visitor restriction policies were age-based (74 percent), symptom-based (97 percent) and outbreak-specific (75 percent).
3. Communication of policies and practices to families occurred at admission (87 percent) and through signage in care areas (64 percent).
4. Communication of policies and practices to staff occurred by email (77 percent), by meetings (55 percent) and by signage in staff-only areas (49 percent).
5. Respondents reported in their facilities enforcement of visitor restriction policies and practices was the responsibility of:
• Nursing: 80 percent
• Registration clerks: 58 percent
• Unit clerks: 53 percent
• The infection prevention team: 31 percent
• Clinicians: 16 percent