Download INFECTION CONTROL: MANAGEMENT OF SUSPECT/PROBABLE

INFECTION CONTROL: MANAGEMENT
OF SUSPECT/PROBABLE SARS CASES
Pre-alerting healthcare settings prior to admission:
It is the duty of the Healthcare Worker (HCW) to alert the receiving unit of admission of a suspected/probable
case prior to patient’s arrival to ensure measures are in place.
From the first moment that a patient is suspected of having SARS it is essential that the following
measures are applied to limit the possibility of infection spreading.
GP
NHS 24
PORTHEALTH
assess individuals for
suspect/probable SARS
By prior arrangement
admit for assessment:
Bypass A&E if possible
and directly admit to
ward/designated area.
Accident and Emergency Triage
Patient gives history of recent travel and symptoms
Place immediately in single cubicle, ask to wear surgical
mask and arrange for HCW to wear Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE - FFP3 mask, goggles/visor, gown and
gloves).
Alert senior Accident and Emergency nursing staff.
Alert Infection Control (IC) Teams and on-call Consultant in
Public Health Medicine (CPHM).
Discussion with Infectious Disease Consultant /
Acute Medical Receiving Consultant
Ensure Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) (including
respirator mask, visor, gown) and
hand hygiene supplies are
available in all settings.
PATIENT IS ADMITTED FOR ISOLATION
Patient placement as per facilities available
ISOLATION OF SARS CASES –
PATIENT CARE ALGORITHM
Cohorting
should only be
used where other
isolation facilities
are not available.
ALL CASES SHOULD BE ISOLATED AS FOLLOWS,
IN DESCENDING ORDER OF RESOURCES
AVAILABLE:
Negative pressure isolation room with handwashing
and toilet facilities (monitoring of negative pressure
rooms is essential)
Patients who are identified as
suspect cases may in the first
instance be transferred to a
nominated SARS specific
hospital/care facility. Transfer of
identified patients should be further
avoided. If this is unavoidable
guidance for transfer should be
sought.
Risk assessment of patient placement, facilities and
procedures prior to cohorting is essential. This must
be done in conjunction with Infection Control Teams
and SCIEH.
COHORTING OF SARS CASES –
PATIENT CARE ALGORITHM
ALL CASES SHOULD BE COHORTED AS FOLLOWS,
IN DESCENDING ORDER OF RESOURCES
AVAILABLE:
Separate area with independent air supply,
exhaust system and toilet and handwashing facilities
Single room with handwashing and toilet facilities
Single room with handwashing facilities
Separate area, with toilet and handwashing facilities
(no separate air supply)
Single room with no additional facilities
Separate area with handwashing facilities only
Checklist
Contact number
Have you
or your
team:
Informed ICT
Separate area with no handwashing facilities
(this is not an ideal setting but should be used
where there are no other options)
Contact number
Discussed with the
Consultant
Do you or
your team
leader
need to :
Speak to Occupational Health (for example any staff not
in PPE and exposed to patient).
K:/Centre/Kilpatrick/Travel/ck_sars/coho...4
Cohorting of those patients under investigation for
SARS, those suspected of SARS, and those probable/
confirmed cases should be in separate areas if at all
possible.