Infection Prevention and Control Best Practices - College ...

INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL BEST PRACTICES
FOR LONG TERM CARE AND COMMUNITY CARE INCLUDING HEALTH CARE OFFICES AND AMBULATORY CLINICS
Liquid waste such as urine, feces, provodine iodine, irrigating solutions, suctioned fluids, excretions and
secretions may be poured carefully down the client’s toilet, which is connected to a sanitary sewer or septic
tank. Body fluids in small amounts such as blood in a syringe withdrawn from a CVAD before a blood
sample is obtained may be discarded in a puncture proof sharps container. Provincial and territorial regulations
may dictate the maximum volume of blood or body fluids that is permitted to be poured in the sanitary
sewer (e.g. 300mls). If there is likely to be splashes or sprays from disposing of blood or body fluids, apply
PPE.
h. Healthy Workplace – Keeping your staff and clients safe
All staff working in health care should have a two-step tubercline skin test at the beginning of employment
unless they have documentation of a negative skin test in the past 12 months. The local Medical Officer of
Health can advise on the need for routine testing depending on the prevalence of Tuberculosis in your
community. Health care providers need to know their history of childhood communicable diseases.
Organizations should commit to promoting vaccine preventable diseases. Documentation of immune status
will be considered when assigning a health care provider to a particular case.
For additional information, please review Health Canada’s Canadian Immunization Guideline at: http://
www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/cig-gci/pdf/cdn_immuniz_guide-2002-6.pdf.
Recommended immunization of staff includes:
� Annual influenza immunization
� Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) – two doses
� Tetanus Diphtheria and Polio (TDP)
� Hepatitis B (full series with follow up blood work to determine conversion)
� For susceptible health care providers, varicella vaccine is recommended (history negative, IgG negative)
Staff should receive education on when to stay home from work
in a health care setting. This includes:
� Febrile respiratory illness
� Dermatitis on their hands (consult your physician about your risk)
� Cold sores or shingles that can’t be covered
� The initial days of a respiratory illness
� Diarrhea
� Eye infections until treated
Most employers of health care providers will have policies in this regard.
If sharps are used in the practice setting, you will need to know where, when and how to obtain follow up
after a potential bloodborne pathogen exposure.
Health care providers and volunteers practice healthy behaviours by self screening for fever, new cough,
diarrhea and new rashes, and staying home when sick.
[21]
Canadian Committee on Antibiotic Resistance