Pandemic Influenza Plan - Questar III

Section 4: Infection Control
E. Cohorting in hospitals during a local pandemic.
• Because of the high patient volume anticipated in a pandemic, cohorting should
be implemented early in the course of a local pandemic.
• Laboratory testing for confirmation is likely to be limited and/or not timely
during a local pandemic, in which case cohorting should be based on having
symptoms consistent with pandemic influenza.
• Personnel who have recovered from pandemic influenza should be prioritized for
assignment to the cohort of patients with active pandemic influenza.
• If staffing crisis necessitates that HCWs work while ill, they should be assigned to
the ill cohort of patients (See III.D, Occupational health issues for a local
pandemic).
F. Patient transport for patients with known or suspected pandemic influenza
• Limit patient movement and transport outside the isolation area to medically
necessary purposes.
• Consider having portable X-ray equipment available in areas designated to the
pandemic influenza cohort unit.
• If transport or movement is necessary, ensure that the patient wears a surgical or
procedure mask. If a mask cannot be tolerated, provide the most practical way to
prevent exposures to other healthcare workers, patients, and or visitors. Some
suggestions include:
o Ensure all healthcare workers transporting the patient don a surgical or
procedural mask for transport.
o Provide tissues for patient to contain respiratory secretions and encourage
respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette.
o Identify a transport route that is restricted to visitors and non-accompanied
patients.
o Use an oxygen mask rather than nasal cannula for transport, if the patient
requires supplemental oxygen.
G. Nosocomial influenza outbreak management for all influenza pandemic periods
Nosocomial outbreaks of influenza most often occur in residential facilities, and are
rarely reported in acute care facilities. The risk of an outbreak of influenza would
increase if an influenza pandemic affected a local community for the following reasons:
• Use of non-traditional settings increases the difficulty in adhering to infection
control (e.g., spacing of patients, access to hand hygiene and PPE).
• Staff may become exposed and may transmit infection while incubating or ill.
• During a pandemic, a severe staffing crisis may necessitate ill workers to work
while ill.
February 7, 2006 4-13