Preventing transmissions and viral outbreaks
We are now entering into what may well be a very busy infection prevention and control season. Early outbreaks of influenza, the emergence of enterovirus D68 (primarily affecting those younger than 20 years of age), returning travellers at risk for MERS-CoV (a respiratory illness similar to SARS) and the potential for norovirus cases will challenge us over the coming months. And that’s why we need your help to minimize exposures and prevent transmission of these communicable viruses. You can make a difference by:
- practising meticulous hand hygiene. Soap and water are preferred when caring for patients with gastrointestinal illnesses.
- staying at home when ill and reporting your illness by:
- calling the Absence Call Line at 1-866-924-4297, and
- calling the Workplace Health Call Centre (WHCC) at 1-866-922-9464 (toll free) to provide your details.
- following the respiratory and gastrointestinal algorithms on VCH Connect as appropriate to the clinical situation.
- isolating patients with a gastrointestinal or respiratory illness thought to be infectious immediately on admission or as soon as symptoms start. Place the appropriate isolation sign outside the door and notify Infection Prevention and Control (54002) so they may monitor and advise Housekeeping of the patient’s status. Housekeeping will clean our acute care facilities with Virox as appropriate. Where available, ultraviolet C disinfection will be used after discharge isolation cleaning.
- refraining from sharing food. In particular, food should not be consumed in clinical areas (e.g. medication carts, medication rooms, clean or soiled utility rooms). If group activities are planned, food must be individually wrapped.
- consulting with your Infection Preventionist on the potential for closing patient kitchens to limit fridge use.
- getting your influenza vaccination. Visit www.vch.ca/staff-flu for flu clinic locations for staff only and for the public.
- immediately consulting your Infection Preventionist or the Medical Microbiologist on-call if you suspect you have a cluster of respiratory or gastrointestinal infections. They will assist you with infection prevention measures, and ordering of diagnostic tests.
For a copy of our “Families &Visitors” norovirus and influenza posters in multiple languages, and for other useful resources, visit Infection Control’s Gastroenteritis Toolkit and Flu 2014/15 on VCH Connect.