Download MSH Monitoring and Management of Personnel potentially exposed

Occupational Health, Wellness & Safety
60 Murray Street, Box#1
Toronto, ON M5T 3L9
www.mtsinai.on.ca
Memo: Monitoring and Management of Personnel potentially exposed to EVD
Mount Sinai Hospital continues closely monitor expert guidance from Ontario and other jurisdictions for
infection control and workplace safety practices to address possible/suspected cases of Ebola virus disease
(EVD) in Canada. Based on the above best practices, additional hospital procedures are developed to prevent
disease transmission and occupational exposure to the EVD.
This Memo is to provide additional information to the MSH Communicable Disease Program policy to specifically
address potential occupational exposure to suspected EVD.
In addition to staff monitoring and management practices below, OHWS will refer exposed and/or symptomatic
staff, to Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and/or MSH Psychiatrist for counselling, if needed.
I.
Persons with percutaneous or mucocutaneous exposures to blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions
from a patient with suspected Ebola HF should:
o Stop working and immediately wash the affected skin surfaces thoroughly with soap and water. Mucous
membranes (e.g., conjunctiva) should be irrigated with copious amounts of water or eyewash solution.
o Follow MSH BBP exposure surveillance protocol to receive assessment and post exposure management
for blood borne pathogens.
o Notify supervisor and OHWS (Complete an employee incident report form and forward it to OHWS).
II. Staff who develop fever and general malaise within 21 days after caring for or being exposed to EVD
patients or handling patient specimens and/or other contaminated materials should follow protocols
below:
If symptoms occurred when at work
 Immediately stop working and notify your
supervisor/designate;
 Notify OHWS (Sick reporting line: ext.7125) state that
you are going to ED;
 Notify Emergency Department Team Leader (ext.
102872) that you are coming to ED for an assessment
of your symptoms, testing and follow up;
 Comply with work exclusion until deemed no longer
infectious to others.
If



symptoms occurred when at home
Don’t report to work
Notify your supervisor/designate;
Notify OHWS (Sick reporting line:
ext.7125)
 Seek prompt medical evaluation and
testing.
 Comply with work exclusion until
deemed no longer infectious to others.
III. Asymptomatic staff who had an unprotected* exposure to a patient with EVD, specimens or
contaminated materials may continue to work, providing requirements below are met. Staff should:
o Report unprotected exposure to OHWS immediately;
o Receive medical evaluation and follow-up care including fever self-monitoring twice daily for 21 days
after the last known exposure.
o Contact OHWS nurse twice daily to update on results of fever monitoring and presence of any potential
symptoms. This information will be documented in the employee file at OHWS.
o Staff should not have any patient contact for 21 days following the unprotected exposure.
o It is recommended that exposed staff would refrain from travelling to places without access to
prompt health care if required.
* Unprotected exposure means not wearing recommended PPE at the time of patient contact or direct
contact to blood/body fluids or materials contaminated with them.
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Last update: October 23, 2014 (Draft)
IV. Staff Planning to work in or returning from affected areas in West Africa
1. Staff planning to work in affected areas in West Africa should notify OHWS to determine if
additional requirements need to be considered.
2. Staff returning from affected areas in West Africa should notify OHWS to:
o Receive medical evaluation to be cleared for work or develop work restrictions plan.
o Conduct fever self-monitoring twice daily for 21 days after landing in Canada and provide
update to OHWS nurse twice daily on results of fever monitoring and presence of any potential
symptoms. This information will be documented in the employee file at OHWS.
o It is recommended that staff would refrain from travelling to places without access to
prompt health care if required.
Any changes to the above practices will be communicated to staff as soon as new information becomes
available. For any additional information contact OHWS at ext.3907
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Last update: October 23, 2014 (Draft)