What do visitors know and how do they feel about contact precautions?

Patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) are placed in contact precautions. We surveyed 31 visitors of CDI patients to understand their compliance, knowledge, and perceptions of contact precautions. Although most visitors knew where to find the required personal protective equipment, only 42% were fully compliant with gown and gloves. Family members accounted for 90% of visitors, and roughly half of the reasons given for not gowning were related to a lack of perceived risk for family members. Nursing staff are fundamental sources of personal protective equipment (PPE) information for visitors; however, we found variation in staff communication regarding need for visitor PPE use.