Long term care facilities have a greater risk of infections due to the age and co-morbidities of the residents. It is the facilities responsibilities to identify, treat, control and contain infectious diseases. With the revision of F441 the regulations better define what steps should be taken to prevent infections and the scope of the Infection Control program in terms of oversight, components of the program, policies and procedures, reporting, surveillance, prevention, control of transmission, recognition and containment of outbreaks. Programs should include a disaster preparedness plan and define how the facility will respond to the situation. Surveillance is one of the key components in an infection control program and the regulations require it be done on a daily basis not retrospectively. Surveillance will assist to identify potential outbreaks and monitor infection control practices within the facility.
With the flu season fast approaching it is imperative to have the latest information about N1H1 and the influenza. Do you need to have an N-95 respirator and if so when should it be used? The CDC has not released the specific guidance related to the N-95 and H1N1. Facilities will continue to vaccinate residents for the flu and will also vaccinate against H1n1 when the vaccine becomes available.
There are many components to the Infection Control program to assist facilities with education, surveillance, containment and infection control practices. By designating a person and/or committee your program can and will be successful. Come and join us at http://boyerandassociates.webex.com for the webinar September 2, 2009 from 1-3pm (CST).
Kristin Lueschow, RN, RRT,WCC
Clinical Operations Consultant
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment