INFECTION CONTROL PRACTICES IN HEALTH CARE SETTINGS

Ira Shah [MD, DCH (Gold Medalist), FCPS, DNB]
Consultant Pediatrician, Mumbai

Address for Correspondence: 1/B Saguna, 271/B St. Francis Road, Vile Parle (W), Mumbai 400056. Email: info@pediatriconcall.com

Health care personnel who may come in contact with patients suffering from H1N1 influenza should take precautions when dealing with suspected cases. They should wear proper masks for prevention of transmission of infection.

Health care personnel at medium -high risk: These persons should wear complete protection equipment including masks (N-95), gloves, protective eye wear (goggles), hair covers, boot or shoe covers and gown or apron.
• Medical and nursing staff involved in clinical examination at airport and quarantine centre
• Medical personnel involved in sample collection
• Rapid response Team while transporting or attending suspect case in the ambulance
• Health staff involved in managing a suspect case at the health facility
• Staff handling dead body of a suspect/ probable/ confirmed case

How to wear the protective gear?
After a thorough hand wash, wear the gown, followed by goggles, shoe cover, head cover, face mask and finally gloves.

How to remove the protective gear?
Remove gown followed by gloves. Wash hands thoroughly and then remove head cover, face mask (by grasping elastic behind ears – do not touch front of mask) and goggles and again wash hands thoroughly. After leaving the room, again wash hands thoroughly

Health care personnel at low-medium risk: These persons will only need a three layered surgical mask.
• Paramedical staff involved in public health screening at the airports.
• Immigration and other ground staff at the airport
• Passengers in the same row, three rows in front and three layers behind a suspect case
• Health workers involved in surveillance
• Rapid response Team during supervisory field operations
• Security personnel involved in quarantine, social distancing measures, law and order maintenance
• Personnel providing essential services
• Close household contacts of a suspect/ probable/confirmed cases
Note: Rapid response Team would consist of a Clinician/ Chest Physician, Epidemiologist, Public Health Specialists, Microbiologist / Virologist

For further details:
www.who.int
www.cdc.gov
www.mohfw.nic.in

Search

What is Swine Flu?

Practical Guidelines

How to diagnose?

Treatment of Swine Flu

Ask a Query

Commonly Asked Questions

Videos on Swine Flu

POLL

Health Solutions from our sponsors

Partner Sites