KFL&A Public Health provides expert guidance for preventing the spread of infections in settings such as hospitals, long-term care homes, retirement and group homes, physicians' offices, dental practices, and clincis where allied health professionals practice.
Note: diarrhea is defined as two or more unformed or watery stools within a 24 hour period that is not considered normal for the resident and is not associated with any recent bowel treatment, diet change or medication.
Enteric Outbreak Control Measures Checklist |
This checklist is for use during institutional outbreaks of respiratory disease. It lists the actions you should take to limit the spread of disease during the outbreak.
Consult with KFL&A Public Health
Notification
Implement droplet and contact precautions
Environmental controls
Outbreak management team meeting
Residents
Staff and volunteers
Visitors
Admissions and transfers
Ongoing monitoring
Declare outbreak over
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Respiratory Outbreak Control Measures Checklist |
Consult with KFL&A Public Health
Notification
Implement droplet and contact precautions
Environmental controls
Outbreak management team meeting
Residents
Staff and volunteers
Visitors
Admissions and transfers
Ongoing monitoring
Declare outbreak over
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Requirements for reprocessing rooms |
Community health care settings that reprocess medical equipment must be configured with a separate area away from patient and clean areas to avoid cross contamination. If a physically separate reprocessing area is not possible, a room that spatially separates clean and dirty reprocessing areas and has a one-way work flow continually moving from dirty to clean is the minimum requirement. Activities in the reprocessing space must be restricted to reprocessing only. Preparation or processing of specimens (urine, stool, swabs, etc.) may not take place in the reprocessing space. Please refer to the CSA standards and PIDAC best practice documents for a full listing of all requirements as this fact sheet does not detail an exhaustive list. Note: this document does not discuss occupational health and safety requirements. Layout
MaterialsMaterials that are used in the reprocessing room for floors, walls, ceilings, surfaces, backsplash and countertops must:
StorageSterile items must be stored in a separate, enclosed, and limited access area that is protected from moisture. Sterile storage must also be separate from dirty items and away from where cleaning takes place. Shelving in the storage area must be non-porous and cleanable. Wrapped sterilization pouches must be stored:
If open shelving is used for storage of sterile medical items, shelving should be at least:
Sinks
Temperature, humidity, and ventilation
Miscellaneous
Resources
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Reprocessing in community health care settings |
Following best practices for cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of reusable medical items can prevent the transmission of infection to clients/patients and healthcare providers.
The Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee (PIDAC) has produced provincial best practice documents that detail best practice requirements for all Regulated Health Professionals (RHP). These documents apply to all RHPs. RHPs include, but are not limited to, physicians, dentists, nurses, physiotherapists and chiropractors. Integrating best practice standards into your daily practice will help to protect the health of your clients and staff. Reusable medical items must be cleaned and then either disinfected or sterilized after each use unless labeled as a single use item. This is known as reprocessing. Items meant to be reprocessed are classified into three categories: critical, semi-critical, and non-critical. Critical items (items that enter sterile tissue or the vascular system) must be cleaned followed by sterilization after each use (e.g., biopsy forceps, tenaculums, dental hand pieces). Semi-critical items (items that come in contact with non-intact skin or intact mucous membranes) must be cleaned, followed by a minimum of high level disinfection; however, sterilization is preferred (e.g., metal specula, respiratory therapy equipment). Non-critical items (which contact intact skin only) must be cleaned, followed by a low-level disinfectant (e.g., blood pressure cuff, stethoscope). Manufacturer instructionsIt is important to always follow the manufacturer's instructions for maintenance and use of medical equipment. Have the manufacturer's instructions on-site and review these instructions for all equipment in your office in order to understand how to reprocess each item. The manufacturer's instructions will detail:
Tips to consider when reprocessing (note: this is not an exhaustive list of requirements):
Biological indicators (spore testing)The sterilization process must be monitored to ensure the integrity of the process. Spore test vials or strips must be run in the sterilizer every day it is used (or every load if using implantable devices). Once the spore test is run it must be incubated for a specified period of time before the results can be read.
Labeling sterilization pouchesLabeling sterilization pouches will help your office track and rotate sterilized items. This is particularly helpful when there is a spore test failure and items must be tracked and held pending further testing. Sterile packaged items must be labeled and include:
Remember to write on the plastic side of the pouch only and not the paper side as this could allow the ink to penetrate the pouch and render it not sterile. Note: Review PIDAC and CSA documents for temperature, humidity, and ventilation requirements. ResourcesFor more information on reprocessing and the minimum standards in Ontario please review the following documents and links:
Reproduced with the permission of Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health. |
Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of reusable medical items |
Note: This is not an exhaustive list of requirements. Follow the applicable Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee (PIDAC) documents that detail best practice requirements for all Regulated Health Professionals (RHP) for cleaning, disinfection and sterilization.
Reproduced with the permission of Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health. |