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Infection prevention and control in health care in providing care for confirmed or suspected A(H1N1) swine influenza patients

Background

The current situation regarding the outbreaks of A(H1N1) swine influenza is evolving rapidly, and countries from different regions of the globe have been affected. Based on epidemiological data, human-to-human transmission has been demonstrated along with the ability of the virus to cause community-level outbreaks which together suggest the possibility of sustained human-to-human transmission. Health-care facilities now face the challenge of providing care for patients infected with A(H1N1) swine influenza. It is critical that
health-care workers use appropriate infection control precautions when caring for patients with influenza-like symptoms, particularly in areas affected by outbreaks of A(H1N1) swine influenza, in order to minimize the possibility of transmission among themselves, to other health-care
workers, patients and visitors.

As at 29 April, human-to-human transmission of A(H1N1) swine influenza virus appears to be mainly through droplets. Therefore, the infection control precautions for patients with suspected or confirmed A(H1N1) swine influenza and those with influenza-like symptoms should prioritizethe control of the spread of respiratory droplets. The precautions for influenza virus with sustained human-to-human transmission (e.g. pandemic-prone influenza) are described in detail in the
document “Infection prevention and control of epidemic- and pandemic-prone acute respiratory diseases in health care WHO Interim Guidelines” 1.
This guidance may change as new information becomes available.
Fundamentals of infection prevention strategies

The WHO Interim Guidelines”1.

This guidance may change as new information becomes available.

Fundamentals of infection prevention strategies

1. Administrative controls are key components, including: implementation of Standard and Droplet Precautions; avoid crowding, promote distance between patients (= 1 m); patient triage for early detection, patient placement and reporting; organization of services; policies on rational use of available supplies; policies on patient procedures; strengthening of infection control infrastructure.

2. Environmental/engineering controls, such as basic health-care facility infrastructure 2 , adequate ventilation, proper patient placement, and adequate environmental cleaning can help reduce the spread of some respiratory pathogens during health care.

3. Rational use of available personal protective equipment (PPE) and appropriate hand hygiene.
For more details, see Essential environmental health standards in health care. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2008.

CRITICAL MEASURES:
Avoid crowding patients together,
promote distance between patients
Protect mucous of mouth and nose
Perform hand hygiene

Tags: swine flu

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 8:17 pm and is filed under swine flu. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.