Infection control will be putting a memo out asap about the corona virus since it has now hit North America as we heard today all over the news. Please read it carefully when it comes out. We need not panic.
Officially the recommendation from WHO and the OHA is that droplet precautions should be taken. Our corporation in line with many other ontario hospitals ( I’m told) is gonna recommend airborne precautions at present.
Screening signage and triage awareness about travel to China (or contact with anyone who has traveled to China) is coming/started/starting.
In discussing at ED committee today we suggested to Infection control to seize this moment to perhaps review with staff PPE donning/use which I’m told will be coming. Using an N95 , eye protection , and gown/ gloves should be reviewed. Education links to come and in hospital huddles/support I’m told.
Tons of info about the virus if you google “Wuhan coronavirus and World Health Organization ” Under fifty deaths worldwide reported so still better odds of dying from things like the flu and driving to work. Not trying to minimize this but just a little perspective.
Expect updates as they come available by infection control and I will feed you anything that comes from the LHIN/other useful sources.
Hi all,
Just wanted to add a few thoughts. While I wasn’t at Sunnybrook during SARS, the memory is still very fresh for many of my colleagues there. During SARS, there was one particular case where Sunnybrook staff intubated a patient while wearing PPE. Nine of those healthcare workers still ended up with SARS. Since then, there has been a huge push to educating us about PPE. I thought I would share some of the good points that have come up in discussions.
Remember that risk of infection increases with: choosing inappropriate PPE, not properly donning, self-contamination on removal, improper disposal, remembering to do hand hygiene but not hygiene for stethoscope, etc… Also remember that the highest risk procedures for infection with respiratory viruses is during BiPAP, bagging, intubation, airway suctioning, and delivering of nebulized meds. For us, if we are preparing to intubate, consider reducing risk in the following ways: Minimize number of people in the room (most experienced intubator, 1 RN, 1 RT, no learners), paralytics to decrease coughing and reduce risk of pt displacing your PPE, and no bagging.
I agree with John and many others’ sentiments that I have heard – risk of dying from influenza is still much higher than risk of dying from the 2019-nCoV. However, we still know so little about this virus, so it’s important that we all stay as safe as possible.
Deb