scholarly journals Bat Intrusions at a Tertiary Care Center, Iowa 2018–2020

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (S1) ◽  
pp. s16-s16
Author(s):  
Mohammed Alsuhaibani ◽  
Takaaki Kobayashi ◽  
Lorinda Sheeler ◽  
Alexandra Trannel ◽  
Stephanie Holley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Potential Exposure ◽  
And Control

Background: Bats are recognized as important vectors in disease transmission. Frequently, bats intrude into homes and buildings, increasing the risk to human health. We describe bat intrusions and exposure incidents in our hospital over a 3-year period. Methods: The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) is an 811-bed academic medical center in Iowa City, Iowa. Established in 1928, UIHC currently covers 209,031.84 m2 (~2,250,000 ft2) and contains 6 pavilions built between 1928 and 2017. We retrospectively obtained bat intrusion calls from the infection prevention and control program call database at UIHC during 2018–2020. We have also described the event management for intrusions potentially associated with patient exposures. Results: In total, 67 bat intrusions occurred during 2018–2020. The most frequent locations were hallways or lounges 28 (42%), nonclinical office spaces 19 (14%), and stairwells 8 (12%). Most bat intrusions (65%) occurred during the summer and fall (June–November). The number of events were 15 in 2018, 28 in 2019, and 24 in 2020. We observed that the number of intrusions increased with the age of each pavilion (Figure 1). Of 67 intrusions, 2 incidents (3%) were associated with potential exposure to patients. In the first incident, reported in 2019, the bat was captured in a patient care area and released before an investigation of exposures was completed and no rabies testing was available. Also, 10 patients were identified as having had potential exposure to the bat. Among them, 9 patients (90%) received rabies postexposure prophylaxis. In response to this serious event, we provided facility-wide education on our bat control policy, which includes the capture and safe handling of the bat, assessment of potential exposures, and potential need for rabies testing. We also implemented a bat exclusion project focused on the exterior of the oldest hospital buildings. The second event, 1 patient was identified to have potential exposure to the bat. The bat was captured, tested negative for rabies, no further action was needed. Conclusions: Bat intrusions can be an infection prevention and control challenge in facilities with older buildings. Hospitals may need animal intrusion surveillance systems, management protocols, and remediation efforts.Funding: NoDisclosures: None

scholarly journals Challenges to Infection Control Team during COVID-19 Pandemic in a Quaternary Medical Center in Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Hala A Amer ◽  
Ibrahim A Alowidah ◽  
Chasteffi Bugtai ◽  
Barbara M. Soule ◽  
Ziad A Memish
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Team Approach ◽  
And Control

Abstract Background: King Saud Medical City (KSMC) is a quaternary care center based in the center of the capital city, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and is one of the key Ministry of Health (MoH) facilities dedicated to the care of COVID-19 patients in the central region. Methods: A comprehensive surge plan was promptly launched in mid-March 2020 to address the pandemic and then expanded in a phase-wise approach. Supporting the capacity of the infection prevention and control department (IPCD) was one of the main pillars of KSMC surge plan. Task force Infection Control teams have been formulated to tackle the different aspects of pandemic containment processes. The challenges and measures undertaken by the IPC team have been described. Conclusion: Realizing the more prominent role of infection prevention and control staff as frontline responders to public health emergencies like COVID-19, a solid infection prevention and control system at the healthcare setting supported by qualified and sufficient manpower, a well-developed multidisciplinary team approach, electronic infrastructure and efficient supply utilization is required for effective crisis management.

scholarly journals Infection prevention guidelines and considerations for paediatric risk groups when reopening primary schools during COVID-19 pandemic, Norway, April 2020

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (22) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tone Bjordal Johansen ◽  
Elisabeth Astrup ◽  
Solveig Jore ◽  
Hege Nilssen ◽  
Bente Barton Dahlberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
School Closures ◽  
Prevention Guidelines ◽  
And Control

In response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, most countries implemented school closures. In Norway, schools closed on 13 March 2020. The evidence of effect on disease transmission was limited, while negative consequences were evident. Before reopening, risk-assessment for paediatric risk groups was performed, concluding that most children can attend school with few conditions requiring preventative homeschooling. We here present infection prevention and control guidelines for primary schools and recommendations for paediatric risk groups.

Adoption of infection prevention and control practices by healthcare workers in Québec: A qualitative study

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (12) ◽  
pp. 1361-1366
Author(s):  
Eve Dubé ◽  
Armelle Lorcy ◽  
Nathalie Audy ◽  
Nadia Desmarais ◽  
Patrice Savard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Medical Laboratory ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Clinical Practices ◽  
Good Communication ◽  
Qualitative Research Design ◽  
And Control

AbstractObjective:To describe barriers and facilitators to the adoption of recommended infection prevention and control (IPC) practices among healthcare workers (HCWs).Methods:A qualitative research design was used. Individual semistructured interviews with HCWs and observations of clinical practices were conducted from February to May 2018 in 8 care units of 2 large tertiary-care hospitals in Montreal (Québec, Canada).Results:We interviewed 13 managers, 4 nurses, 2 physicians, 3 housekeepers, and 2 medical laboratory technologists. We conducted 7 observations by following IPC nurses (n = 3), nurses (n = 2), or patient attendants (n = 2) in their work routines. Barriers to IPC adoption were related to the context of care, workplace environment issues, and communication issues. The main facilitator of the IPC adoption by HCWs was the “development of an IPC culture or safety culture.” The “IPC culture” relied upon leadership support by managers committed to IPC, shared belief in the importance of IPC measures to limit healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), collaboration and good communication among staff, as well as proactivity and ownership of IPC measures (ie, development of local solutions to reduce HAIs and “working together” toward common goals).Conclusions:Adoption of recommended IPC measures by HCWs is strongly influenced by the “IPC culture.” The IPC culture was not uniform within hospital and differences in IPC culture were identified between care units.

scholarly journals Infection Prevention and Control in Residential Facilities for Pediatric Patients and Their Families

2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 1003-1041 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith A. Guzman-Cottrill ◽  
Karen A. Ravin ◽  
Kristina A. Bryant ◽  
Danielle M. Zerr ◽  
Larry Kociolek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Low Birthweight ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Residential Facilities ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Solid Organ ◽  
And Control

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) guideline “Infection Prevention and Control in Residential Facilities for Pediatric Patients and Their Families” is the first infection prevention and control (IPC) guideline to address preventing transmission of infectious agents in “home away from home” residential settings, of which the Ronald McDonald Houses (RMHs) serve as a prototype. These types of facilities provide support services, including overnight lodging, for ill and injured children and their families. Food preparation occurs in common areas, and cleaning of rooms or apartments is performed by the occupants during their stay and before departure. Pediatric patients are frequent guests of the family-centered facilities while receiving or recovering from specialized medical therapy. Examples of high-risk populations served in these facilities include families of patients with cancer, recipients of stem cell or solid organ transplants, surgical and/or very-low-birthweight infants who receive care in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), those with cystic fibrosis, and women with high-risk pregnancies awaiting delivery in a nearby medical center. Such facilities are located worldwide and vary in their physical structure and the predominant population served.

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