As we continue to battle the ongoing public health crisis of COVID-19 and the upcoming cold and flu season, infection prevention is imperative. Standard practices can help to prevent the spread of infection. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, healthcare settings and providers should establish protocol to identify and care for patients with suspected and/or confirmed COVID-19 cases.
The virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted in three different ways according to the CDC: “inhalation of very fine respiratory droplets and aerosol particles, deposition of respiratory droplets and particles on exposed mucous membranes in the mouth, nose, or eye by direct splashes and sprays and touching mucous membranes with hands that have been soiled either directly by virus-containing respiratory fluids or indirectly by touching surfaces with virus on them.” The CDC recommends preventative practices to reduce virus transmission. These practices include physical distancing, community use of well-fitting masks or face coverings, adequate ventilation, and avoidance of crowded indoor spaces. Additionally, practicing good hand hygiene and environmental cleaning can reduce transmission through soiled hands and surfaces.
Ensuring that everyone is aware of current infection prevention and control practices (IPC) is vital. This can be achieved by displaying CDC recommendations in entrances, common areas and waiting rooms. Including dates on these notices can reassure readers that the recommendations are current.
As healthcare workers, working closely with various patients, it’s important to protect yourselves from the exposure and spread of infection and disease. Healthcare facilities can implement protective measures to assist in infection prevention. Continuing measures such as patient screening upon arrival and reporting symptoms can slow infection and spreading throughout the facility. Other preventative measures include wearing a well-fitted mask that covers the mouth and nose, physical and social distancing and getting vaccinated.
While all these precautions may be preventative, contracting COVID-19 is still a possibility and as a provider, you may provide care to a positive patient who may or may not display symptoms. When caring for these patients, it is important to utilize Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), practice Hand Hygiene and get tested frequently. Patients who are positive for COVID-19 should be placed in a single room and should have limited in person visitation.
When utilizing Personal Protective Equipment, it is important to follow Standard Precautions. These precautions are the minimum infection prevention practices, and they apply to all patient care regardless of suspected or confirmed infection status.
The most important infection prevention practice is Hand Hygiene. Good Hand Hygiene reduces the spread of deadly germs to patients and reduces the risk of healthcare provider colonization or infection caused by germs acquired from the patient. You can practice hand hygiene one of two ways: using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or by washing your hands with soap and water. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are the most effective products for reducing the number of germs on the hands of healthcare providers.
Taking preventative measures and enforcing CDC recommended infection prevention control practices, we can all help keep each other safe and slow the exposure and spread of infections and disease.
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Source: CDC
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