This pocket guide was modeled after a similar handbook developed and published by the Fédération des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec (January 2005). Health care-associated infections (HAI) are a major threat to hospitalized clients / patients causing serious illness and death. Preventing infections is the responsibility of all health care providers and is absolutely essential in the safe delivery of care.
The purpose of this pocket guide is to provide a simple tool for quick access to infection prevention and control measures on specific infectious diseases / conditions which may be relevant in acute care settings. This information includes recommendations for Routine Practices and Additional Precautions (i.e. Contact, Droplet and Airborne), along with relevant information on the duration of Additional Precautions, mode of transmission, infectious material, and major clinical signs and symptoms.
The intent of this pocket guide is for quick reference only; please refer to your facility’s policy and procedures manual and / or consult your infection prevention and control professional for further information and during outbreak situations.
It is important to note that the Additional Precautions (i.e. Contact, Droplet and Airborne) recommended for each disease are to be used in addition to Routine Practices. Routine Practices must be used for all clients / patients, by all health care providers, at all times. A description of Routine Practices, including Hand Hygiene, is included, along with tips for putting on and taking off personal protective equipment (PPE).
When caring for clients / patients, it is important to use Routine Practices and Additional Precautions based on a risk assessment.
Additional Precautions (i.e. Contact, Droplet, and Airborne) may be initiated by any health care provider and reported to their supervisor and / or Infection Prevention and Control. However, discontinuation of Additional Precautions should only be done in consultation with your infection prevention and control professional.
A list of reportable diseases is included to assist the health care provider in identifying which disease requires immediate reporting or next working-day reporting to the local Medical Officer of Health, as per Ontario Regs 559/91 and amendments under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all information contained within this document, the Regional Infection Control Network (RICN) does not accept any liability for any errors or omissions which remain. It is the responsibility of the user to ensure that they are using the most current infection prevention and control best practices available in their practice setting.
The recommended measures in this pocket guide are exclusively intended for use by health care providers for the care of clients / patients in acute care facilities. It is recommended that any health care provider with an exposure to any infectious material, consult their occupational health professional and / or a physician as soon as possible.
Authors
The development of this pocket guide was the collaborative endeavor by the subgroup of the Hospitals Working Group of the South Eastern Ontario Infection Control Network on the research, content, coordination, writing and revisions. The members of this subgroup (in alphabetical order) are:
Melanie Barbacsy BSc, BASc, CPHI(C), CIC, Hotel Dieu Hospital
Dorianne Chesterton RN, CIC, Quinte Health Care
Susan Cooper MLT, CIC, South Eastern Ontario Infection Control Network
JoAnne Cunningham RN, OHN, Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital
Chandra Patel RN, BA, OHN, Lennox and Addington County General Hospital
Christine Weir RN, BNSc, MSc, CIC, Public Health Agency of Canada
The development of this pocket guide was the collaborative endeavor by the subgroup of the Hospitals Working Group of the South Eastern Ontario Infection Control Network on the research, content, coordination, writing and revisions. The members of this subgroup (in alphabetical order) are:
Melanie Barbacsy BSc, BASc, CPHI(C), CIC, Hotel Dieu Hospital
Dorianne Chesterton RN, CIC, Quinte Health Care
Susan Cooper MLT, CIC, South Eastern Ontario Infection Control Network
JoAnne Cunningham RN, OHN, Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital
Chandra Patel RN, BA, OHN, Lennox and Addington County General Hospital
Christine Weir RN, BNSc, MSc, CIC, Public Health Agency of Canada
Content Validation
Ontario Regional Infection Control Networks: Network Coordinators, Infection Control Consultants, Medical Coordinators / Infectious Disease Physicians, Liz VanHorne - Acting Provincial Coordinator.
Graphic Design and Layout
Michael Essensa, OSM Networks Inc., Belleville, ON, Canada (Print Book)
Steve Knott, OSM Networks Inc., Belleville, ON, Canada (Web Guide)
Acknowledgments
The members of the subgroup of the Hospitals Working Group gratefully acknowledge the South Eastern Ontario Infection Control Network: Janet Allen and Marianne Walker for their guidance and support throughout the preparation of this pocket guide, and Debbie Moulton for her assistance in collating the feedback provided by the reviewers.
