Chris | February 6, 2012
Here is a real example of just how virulent Noro Virus, the virus that causes Acute Gastroenteritis, can be. Visualize the chain of infection. This is a true story, in fact, it occurred in my own extended family.
Day one, A 20 month old baby girl (Sophie) in child care with 14 other young children 5 [...]
Chris | January 16, 2012
An Infection Control professional working in Long-term Care is also referred to as an ICP (Infection Control Professional) or Infection Control Nurse. More recently the term Infection Preventionist has been introduced to describe the position. ICP’s are usually required to be a licensed Registered or Vocational Nurse, depending on state regulations and in Long-term Care, the job of Infection Control [...]
Chris | December 28, 2011
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has written updated Guidelines for Seasonal Influenza in Long-term Care: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF INFLUENZA IN CALIFORNIA LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES/ Click here for link: California Department of Public Health Updated Influenza Guidelines December 2011
The Guidelines stress vaccination of all Healthcare Workers (HCW) APIC INFLUENZA VACCINE [...]
Chris | December 4, 2011
In 2004, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) developed a 12 steps campaign to prevent antimicrobial resistance in long-term care. Step # 4 states “Broad Spectrum Antibiotics must be targeted to known pathogens.” Broad Spectrum Antibiotics are frequently ordered in long-term care. The physician is usually not on the premises when they receive a call [...]
Chris | November 17, 2011
* I resisted the idea of inserting an authentic picture of the Scabies Mite here. It would only cause a Psychological Phenomenon, followed by intense itching.
Scabies are the little mite that burrows just under the skin where it hatches more of its kind and sometimes leaves evidence of its presence in the form of trails of waste.
The [...]
Chris | October 23, 2011
The 2011-2012 Flu vaccine formulation; what viruses does this year’s flu vaccine protect against?
According to the FDA this year’s flu vaccine contains the same combination of viral subtypes as last year’s. The 2011-2012 flu vaccine is comprised of:
an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus;
an A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus; and
a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.
People may wonder why [...]
Chris | October 2, 2011
It’s survey time again in Southern California; last week I received several calls from Infection Control designee’s; some were pretty stressed because state surveyors were on the premises, asking questions and expecting valid explanations; what may have felt like a terminal inquisition to the Infection Control Designee may have gone something like this:
Where is your [...]
Chris | September 11, 2011
You, the DSD, come on duty Monday morning and are told Sunday night three residents began having several episodes of Vomiting and Diarrhea; in addition, a Nursing Assistant went home with the same symptoms. What should you do with this information?
Consider this a potential Norovirus- associated Gastroenteritis outbreak.
First notify DON, Medical Director, resident’s Physicians, Administration [...]
Chris | September 10, 2011
I have been reviewing my mail again; thanks to everyone for their encouragement and kind comments. Someone asked about an RSS feed; there is one available; it’s at the bottom left of the page, just scroll down.
I’ll soon be posting some questions and answers regarding situations found in some of the Long-term Care Facilities I work with. Thank [...]
Chris | August 22, 2011
Question: What is the purpose of infection control policies and procedures?
Answer: In health care, policies and procedures describe protocols written, reviewed and adopted by the institution one is employed by. They are more than a guide, they define the expectations for performance and set standards that can and will be used to measure the [...]
