Protective Environment Guidelines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that patients undergoing allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (in which bone marrow is taken from a person other than the recipient) be placed in a protective environment room for the prevention of fungal infections.1,2,3
An effective protective environment requires a positive-pressure room with the door kept closed to maintain the proper air pressure balance between the isolation room and the adjoining hallway (12 air exchanges per hour). Positive air pressure must be monitored daily with smoke tubes or flutter strips. The incoming air is filtered through high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration before circulation.1,4,5
Equipment
Gloves ▪ gowns ▪ masks ▪ N-95 respirator masks ▪ positive-pressure room with HEPA filter ▪ new thermometer ▪ new blood pressure cuff ▪ new stethoscope.
Equipment should be restricted to the patient’s room.
Preparation of Equipment
Ensure that all equipment taken into the room is properly cleaned with facility- and Environmental Protection Agency—approved disinfectant before entering the room.5
