Here is a recent study assessing the impact of increased contact precautions on compliance with best practices. As the burden of isolation increased (20% or less to greater than 60%), a decrease in compliance with hand hygiene (43.6%-4.9%) and with all 5 components (hand hygiene before and after patient encounter, donning of gown and glove upon entering a patient room, and doffing upon exiting) was observed (31.5%-6.5%).
To me this underscores the following: we are still looking for the best way to apply contact precautions and for a means to promote and maintain compliance with contact precautions when its use is deemed necessary.
