CDC Draft Norovirus Outbreak Guidelines

[Wishart, Michael]

CDC have released a draft GUIDELINE FOR THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF
NOROVIRUS GASTROENTERITIS OUTBREAKS IN HEALTHCARE SETTINGS

It is available at:
http://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/pdf/norovirus/HICPAC_Norovirus_FR_Ver_05_20_10
_clean.pdf

One of the points I find interesting is that they do not recommend a
surgical mask should be routinely worn by all staff caring for suspected
viral gastroenteritis in symptomatic patients, to reduce staff exposure
to potentially infective aerosols. They have the following
recommendation:

3.C.2.a Use a surgical or procedure mask, and eye protection if there is
a risk of splashes to the face during the care of patients, particularly
among those who are vomiting. (Category IB)

In practice, I do not think staff will actually be able to put on a mask
in a timely manner every time the patient commences vomiting and the
staff are in close vicinity. (“oh, just wait a minute whilst I get my
mask on!”)

How many other facilities encourage all staff having direct patient
contact to wear a surgical mask routinely in the care of all symptomatic
patients in a suspected gastroenteritis outbreak?

Thanks
Michael

Michael Wishart | GPH – Infection Control Coordinator

GPH – Quality & Safety Unit (Infection Control) | Greenslopes Private
Hospital
Newdegate Street, Greenslopes QLD 4120
t: 07 3394 7919 | f: 07 3394 7985
e: WishartM@ramsayhealth.com.au | w: http://www.ramsayhealth.com.au

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[Wishart, Michael]

Oops. The previous link didn’t parse correctly. Try this short link to
access the draft CDC Guidelines for Norovirus outbreaks.

http://tinyurl.com/25m2urk

Thanks
Michael

Michael Wishart | GPH – Infection Control Coordinator

GPH – Quality & Safety Unit (Infection Control) | Greenslopes Private
Hospital
Newdegate St, Greenslopes QLD 4120
t: 07 3394 7919 | pager 047 | f: 07 3394 7985
e: WishartM@ramsayhealth.com.au | w: http://www.ramsayhealth.com.au

Ramsay Health Care is an environmentally responsible corporation, please
consider the environment before printing this email.

—–Original Message—–
Behalf Of Wishart, Michael
Guidelines

CDC have released a draft GUIDELINE FOR THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF
NOROVIRUS GASTROENTERITIS OUTBREAKS IN HEALTHCARE SETTINGS

It is available at:
http://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/pdf/norovirus/HICPAC_Norovirus_FR_Ver_05_20_10
_clean.pdf

One of the points I find interesting is that they do not recommend a
surgical mask should be routinely worn by all staff caring for suspected
viral gastroenteritis in symptomatic patients, to reduce staff exposure
to potentially infective aerosols. They have the following
recommendation:

3.C.2.a Use a surgical or procedure mask, and eye protection if there is
a risk of splashes to the face during the care of patients, particularly
among those who are vomiting. (Category IB)

In practice, I do not think staff will actually be able to put on a mask
in a timely manner every time the patient commences vomiting and the
staff are in close vicinity. (“oh, just wait a minute whilst I get my
mask on!”)

How many other facilities encourage all staff having direct patient
contact to wear a surgical mask routinely in the care of all symptomatic
patients in a suspected gastroenteritis outbreak?

Thanks
Michael

Michael Wishart | GPH – Infection Control Coordinator

GPH – Quality & Safety Unit (Infection Control) | Greenslopes Private
Hospital
Newdegate Street, Greenslopes QLD 4120
t: 07 3394 7919 | f: 07 3394 7985
e: WishartM@ramsayhealth.com.au | w: http://www.ramsayhealth.com.au

Ramsay Health Care is an environmentally responsible corporation, please
consider the environment before printing this email.

This e-mail message and any accompanying files may contain
information that is confidential and subject to privilege. If you
are not the intended recipient, and have received the e-mail
in error, you are notified that any use, dissemination,
distribution, forwarding, printing or copying of the message
and any attached files is strictly prohibited. If you have
received this e-mail message in error please immediately
advise the sender by return e-mail, or telephone 1800 243 903.
You must destroy the original transmission and its contents.
Any views expressed within this communication are those of
the individual sender, except where the sender specifically
states them to be the views of Ramsay Health Care.
This communication should not be copied or disseminated
without permission.
————————————————————————

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do not represent the opinion of AICA.
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[Craig Boutlis]

Hi Michael,

In our patch, we’ve tended to follow the famous NSW Health “Gastro pack” (http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/resources/publichealth/infectious/diseases/pdf/hospital_pack.pdf), which specifies:

CONTACT AND DROPLET PRECAUTIONS

* Contact Precautions includes wearing gloves and a plastic apron or gown when having contact
with the patient or the patient’s environment, especially when attending to patient toileting and
hygiene.

* Protective eyewear and mask must be worn when there is the potential of vomit or faecal
splashing.

* A mask should also be worn when there is the potential for aerosol dissemination. This may occur
when attending a vomiting patient, toileting an affected patient, changing and handling soiled linen
or any faecally soiled waste, attending a patient’s personal hygiene care, disposing of faeces, or
cleaning an affected patients room or environment.

Craig

————-
Craig Boutlis
Director, IMACS
Infection Management and Control Service (IMACS)
Level 1, Lawson House
The Wollongong Hospital
LMB 8808
SCMC NSW 2521

—–Original Message—–

CDC have released a draft GUIDELINE FOR THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF NOROVIRUS GASTROENTERITIS OUTBREAKS IN HEALTHCARE SETTINGS

It is available at:
http://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/pdf/norovirus/HICPAC_Norovirus_FR_Ver_05_20_10
_clean.pdf

One of the points I find interesting is that they do not recommend a surgical mask should be routinely worn by all staff caring for suspected viral gastroenteritis in symptomatic patients, to reduce staff exposure to potentially infective aerosols. They have the following
recommendation:

3.C.2.a Use a surgical or procedure mask, and eye protection if there is a risk of splashes to the face during the care of patients, particularly among those who are vomiting. (Category IB)

In practice, I do not think staff will actually be able to put on a mask in a timely manner every time the patient commences vomiting and the staff are in close vicinity. (“oh, just wait a minute whilst I get my mask on!”)

How many other facilities encourage all staff having direct patient contact to wear a surgical mask routinely in the care of all symptomatic patients in a suspected gastroenteritis outbreak?

Thanks
Michael

Michael Wishart | GPH – Infection Control Coordinator

GPH – Quality & Safety Unit (Infection Control) | Greenslopes Private Hospital Newdegate Street, Greenslopes QLD 4120
t: 07 3394 7919 | f: 07 3394 7985
e: WishartM@ramsayhealth.com.au | w: http://www.ramsayhealth.com.au

Ramsay Health Care is an environmentally responsible corporation, please consider the environment before printing this email.

This e-mail message and any accompanying files may contain information that is confidential and subject to privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, and have received the e-mail in error, you are notified that any use, dissemination, distribution, forwarding, printing or copying of the message and any attached files is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail message in error please immediately advise the sender by return e-mail, or telephone 1800 243 903.
You must destroy the original transmission and its contents.
Any views expressed within this communication are those of the individual sender, except where the sender specifically states them to be the views of Ramsay Health Care.
This communication should not be copied or disseminated without permission.
————————————————————————

Messages posted to this list are solely the opinion of the authors, and do not represent the opinion of AICA.
Archive of all messages are available at http://aicalist.org.au/archives – registration and login required.
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