Improving staff compliance with isolation precautions through use of an educational intervention and behavioral contract.

Hospital-acquired infections negatively impact patient outcomes, length of stay, and the economy. Health care systems must find ways to decrease the spread of infection and the development of infection with the use of isolation precautions in an acute care setting. All staff members must be aware of ways to decrease or prevent the spread of infection by the appropriate use of isolation precautions. This article describes a successful program that improved the use of isolation precautions among nursing personnel through the implementation of an educational intervention and behavioral contract.