The use of contact isolation for the prevention of healthcareassociated infections adds costs and decreases flexibility. Evidence for contact isolation must be balanced with the evidence of unintended negative consequences. The presenter will propose a method approaching isolation decisions that takes available evidence, and gaps in our knowledge into account.;Objectives: • Differentiate the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence supporting the use of contact isolation vs. evidence associated with unintended patient harm • Recognize the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence that contact isolation can be associated with unintended patient harm • Devise an approach to developing rational