Is enteric precautions a CDC term?

No. CDC uses Contact Precautions. “Enteric”, “contact plus” or “special contact” are facility sign names for Contact Precautions with soap-and-water hand hygiene and sporicidal or norovirus-effective cleaning.

Why soap and water instead of hand sanitizer?

C. difficile forms spores that alcohol does not kill, so washing physically removes them. For norovirus, CDC’s 2011 guideline recommends soap and water after patient care during outbreaks.

Isolation precautions

Enteric Precautions

“Enteric precautions” — also called contact plus, contact enteric or special contact precautions — is a sign many hospitals use for patients with C. difficile or norovirus. It is not a separate CDC category: it is CDC Contact Precautions plus extra hand hygiene and cleaning steps aimed at organisms that alcohol and many disinfectants do not reliably kill.

What the sign usually means

Contact Precautions: a gown and gloves on room entry, a single room when available, and dedicated equipment.
Hand hygiene with soap and water after care. Alcohol does not kill C. difficile spores, and CDC’s norovirus guideline recommends soap and water after caring for norovirus patients during outbreaks.
Disinfection with a product that works on the organism: hypochlorite (bleach) or another sporicidal product on EPA List K for C. difficile, and a product on EPA List G for norovirus.
Facility names and exact rules vary, so follow your own infection prevention policy and signage.

How long it lasts

C. difficile: for the duration of illness (CDC). IDSA/SHEA suggest continuing Contact Precautions for at least 48 hours after diarrhea resolves.
Norovirus: at least 48 hours after symptoms resolve (CDC), or longer to control an institutional outbreak.

What CDC’s table says

Verbatim from CDC’s Appendix A, with bibliography numbers removed.

Gastroenteritis — C. difficile
ContactStandardC. diff guide
DurationDuration of illness
Gastroenteritis — Noroviruses
ContactStandardNorovirus guide
Duration—
Gastroenteritis — Rotavirus
ContactStandard
DurationDuration of illness

Test yourself: a CIC-style question

According to CDC guidelines, when should alcohol-based hand rub NOT be used?

After removing gloves
Before patient contact
When hands are visibly soiled or after caring for a patient with C. difficile
After contact with a patient’s intact skin

Show answer

C. When hands are visibly soiled or after caring for a patient with C. difficile

Alcohol-based hand rub does not kill C. difficile spores and does not remove visible soil. Soap and water is preferred in those situations, and during norovirus outbreaks.

Questions like this come up in the Preventing and Controlling the Transmission of Infectious Agents domain of the CIC® exam. The 654 questions in the app each come with a written explanation.

FAQ

Is enteric precautions a CDC term?: No. CDC uses Contact Precautions. “Enteric”, “contact plus” or “special contact” are facility sign names for Contact Precautions with soap-and-water hand hygiene and sporicidal or norovirus-effective cleaning.
Why soap and water instead of hand sanitizer?: C. difficile forms spores that alcohol does not kill, so washing physically removes them. For norovirus, CDC’s 2011 guideline recommends soap and water after patient care during outbreaks.

Sources

Checked against CDC on October 21, 2026. For education and CIC® exam preparation only — not a substitute for your facility’s infection prevention policies, your state or local health department, or clinical judgment. CBIC and CDC do not endorse this tool.