October 2012 Volume 1, Issue 9
UMMC Nursing Newsletter Flu is Here…Are You Ready? As flu sits on our doorstep, we have an opportunity to position ourselves to protect staff, patients and visitors for acquiring seasonal influenza. Successful flu strategies require a multi-pronged approach targeted at immunity, assessment and transmission prevention.
Flu Vaccine is a priority at UMMC and is mandatory for all staff. Not only will the vaccine likely prevent the flu, even if you are exposed, it will also prevent you from transmitting flu to our patients and fellow healthcare workers. However, if staff develop fever with respiratory symptoms, they should stay home until fever has resolved.
If onset of fever and respiratory/flu like symptoms occurs at work: • • •
Stop patient care activities Don a mask Consult with their supervisor and Employee Health Services
Early assessment of our patients (and their visitors) both in inpatient and outpatient areas assists us in instituting early measures to prevent flu transmission. All inpatients should be evaluated upon admission for fever, respiratory symptoms (and other potentially infectious symptoms) and should be placed in droplet-contact precautions if flu or other respiratory viral illness is suspected. Provide masks for symptomatic patients outside of their rooms. Equip strategic areas (emergency rooms, entries to facility, waiting rooms, outpatient areas, and cafeterias) in hospital with easily accessible tissues, alcohol sanitizer, trash receptacle and masks. Staff, patients and visitors should be reminded to use cough etiquette: • Cough into tissue or sleeve and away from others • Dispose used tissues immediately after use • Clean hands • Post alerts and reminders in strategic areas (such as in waiting rooms, outpatient areas, elevators and cafeterias)
How is flu transmitted? Influenza viruses are primarily transmitted through large-particle respiratory droplet transmission (e.g., when an infected person coughs or sneezes near a susceptible person). Transmission via largeparticle droplets requires close contact between source and recipient persons, because droplets generally travel only short distances (approximately 6 feet or less) through the air. Indirect contact transmission via hand transfer of influenza virus from virus-contaminated surfaces or objects to mucosal surfaces of the face (e.g., nose, mouth) may also occur. Airborne transmission should be used during aerosol-generating procedures (like suctioning) since transmission may occur via small particle aerosols. Staff needs to: • Use appropriate respiratory protection: N95 or PAPR with eyeshield • Aerosol generating procedures done in negative pressure room
Preventing transmission is everyone’s responsibility. How often have you cared for a patient and a couple days later realized that the patient had flu or other transmissible infection? Routine hand hygiene prior to and following contact with each patient and their environment is vital in providing safe patient care and for the prevention of disease transmission. 1