The Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan for the Health Sector

(d)
3. Masks and eye protection, or face shields should be worn to prevent HCW
exposure to sprays of blood, body secretions or excretions. Surgical masks
are considered adequate for this purpose 9,44,45 .
BIII
4. HCWs should avoid touching their eyes with their hands to prevent
self-contamination with pathogens.
5. Masks should be worn, as outlined in Section 2.6.
ii. Gloves
1. Gloves are not required for the routine care of residents suspected of
having or confirmed to have influenza. Meticulous handwashing with soap
and water or performing hand antisepsis will inactivate the virus.
AIII
2 Gloves should be worn to provide an additional protective barrier between
the HCWs hands and blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions and mucous
membranes to reduce the potential transfer of microorganisms from infected
residents to HCWs and from resident to resident via HCW hands.
AII
3. Gloves are necessary for HCWs with open lesions on their hands when
providing direct resident care.
AII
4. Gloves should be used as an additional measure, not as a substitute for hand
hygiene 46,47 .
BII
5. Gloves should not be reused or washed 47 .
AII
iii. Gowns
1. Gowns are not required for the routine care of residents suspected of
having or confirmed to have influenza.
AI
2. Long sleeved gowns should only be used to protect uncovered skin and
prevent soiling of clothing during procedures and resident care activities
likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood, body fluids, secretions or
excretions 9,45 .
BIII
3. HCWs should ensure any open skin areas/lesions on forearms or exposed
skin is covered with a dry dressing at all times. Intact skin that has been
contaminated with blood, body fluids, secretions or excretions should be
washed as soon as possible, thoroughly but gently with soap and warm
running water.
BIII
Cleaning Disinfection Sterilization of Resident Care Equipment
i. Long term care settings should adhere to the recommendations for cleaning,
disinfection and sterilization of resident care equipment as outlined in the Health
Canada Infection Control Guidelines Handwashing, Cleaning Disinfection and
Annex F 23