# Why would a surgical patient who developed an infection be quarantined? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 29, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-surgical-patient-who-developed-an-infection-be-quarantined/711233 "2015-01-29T16:11:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-surgical-patient-who-developed-an-infection-be-quarantined/711233/1 "2015-01-29T16:11:23Z")
A surgical patient who has been recovering in the hospital has now developed an infection, and he’s being moved to a quarantined room. Infections during surgical recover happen, I know, but they typically aren’t contagious or dangerous for others nearby, are they? What does it signify that he’s being quarantined? Not seeking medical advice. I’m not that close to the situation and certainly don’t have any contact with the doctors. I’m just wondering what to expect. It’s a family member but not that close to me. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-surgical-patient-who-developed-an-infection-be-quarantined/711233/2 "2015-01-29T16:15:00Z")
Depends on the infection, but in the US, patients are routinely screen for MRSA (methicillin resistant staph aureus) and VRE (vancomycin resistant enterococcus) on admission. Having either of those be positive gets you a “contact precautions” room, which means everybody who comes in has to wear a gown (usually yellow for some reason) and gloves. How long was the patient in the hospital for? Did he come in that day for the surgery or had been there for a while? ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-surgical-patient-who-developed-an-infection-be-quarantined/711233/3 "2015-01-29T16:24:56Z")
Entered the hospital for surgery more than a week ago and has been there since. A second surgery was needed a couple days ago, but infection wasn’t part of the discussion and visitors have been coming and going. Infection and quarantine are suddenly new issues. I haven’t heard of any screening for these things but then I wouldn’t have anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-surgical-patient-who-developed-an-infection-be-quarantined/711233/4 "2015-01-29T22:19:11Z")
Any chance the quarantine is for the benefit of the patient (i.e. to help someone in a weakened state avoid additional infection)? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-surgical-patient-who-developed-an-infection-be-quarantined/711233/5 "2015-01-29T22:48:41Z")
It could be to protect a vulnerable patient from additional infections or to contain a multiple-drug resistant bug that’s in the patient. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-surgical-patient-who-developed-an-infection-be-quarantined/711233/6 "2015-01-30T03:41:00Z")
It could as far as I know, if they use the word “quarantine” that way. Do they? Off to Wikipedia… ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-surgical-patient-who-developed-an-infection-be-quarantined/711233/7 "2015-01-30T03:45:14Z")
It doesn’t sound like they use the word in cases where they are protecting the patient. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-surgical-patient-who-developed-an-infection-be-quarantined/711233/8 "2015-01-30T04:36:59Z")
I was in isolation, I think they called it, in the hospital once so I wouldn’t be infected. Nurses and visitors were supposed to put on gowns and masks before they came in. My visitors did, but my food was routinely late. I could hear the cart, but I know the nurses were too busy to put on the gowns and stuff to bring it in, so after a half hour or so I would press the button and ask if my food was there. They would also open the door and toss me my pills sometimes if they were rushed. I was 23 with good reflexes, so I would laugh with them about it. Anyhow, I bet that’s what it is. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-surgical-patient-who-developed-an-infection-be-quarantined/711233/9 "2015-01-30T04:41:16Z")
Could have picked up a non-surgery infection that would jeopardize other patients. Flu, for example. ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-surgical-patient-who-developed-an-infection-be-quarantined/711233/10 "2015-01-30T04:47:40Z")
Flu wouldn’t get you quarantine afaik. When I was a NA it was Cdif, Mrsa, or TB that would get most people quarantine. Makes my skin crawl just thinking about, Cdif especially