The Role of the Perioperative Nurse in Implementing Contact Precautions to Prevent Transmission of Multidrug‐Resistant Organisms

Abstract

The World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention consider the global increase in multidrug‐resistant organisms (MDROs) to be one of the greatest modern threats to public health. Limited treatment options exist for microorganisms such as carbapenem‐resistant Enterobacterales and Candida auris; as a result, infected patients may experience poor outcomes. Perioperative nurses should use infection prevention measures (eg, contact precautions) to prevent the spread of emerging MDROs when transporting patients to and from procedures, caring for patients during procedures, and completing between‐procedure cleaning. Because nurses are involved with all phases of perioperative care, they are well‐positioned to serve as infection prevention champions and provide education to personnel, patients, and caregivers. This article describes actions and steps the perioperative nurse should take during implementation of contact precautions to prevent the transmission of MDROs—specifically, emerging pathogens carbapenem‐resistant Enterobacterales and C auris.