Managing Patients with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)

[Anonymous]

Hi All,
Just wondering if anyone has had to implement any management plans & strategies for patients that have MCS.
These patients are basically sensitive to all fragrances, fumes & chemicals in products, therefore can be affected by both contact with surfaces & thru smell.
We are about to have an admission of a patient for surgery who is has an extreme level of sensitivities & allergies – basically to everything.
This makes environmental cleaning & disinfection, management of linen (towels, bedding, staff uniforms & surgical scrubs), staff personal hygiene & skin antisepsis for surgery extremely difficult.
We have suggested using discussed with this patient the use of disposable items e.g. linen, scrubs, BP cuff etc however, the patient states that disposable items have chemical residue therefore are also a problem.
We are providing the patient with items & solutions to test on her skin.
We will be using microfibre & hot water for cleaning, as even ‘fragrance free’ cleaning products still have a fragrance for this patient, plus surface skin contact sensitivity issues.
I would greatly appreciate if anyone would be will to share any procedures, management strategies & products that you have used for these types of patients.
Cheers

Catherine Wade

Clinical Nurse Consultant | Infection Prevention & Control (IPAC)
Level 6, K6 (Close Observation Unit)
Gosford Hospital, Holden Street, GOSFORD NSW 2250
Fax:(02) 4320 2874 | Internal Fax: 92874
Catherine.Wade@health.nsw.gov.au or CCLHD-IPAC@health.nsw.gov.au

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