Emerging Issues

Infection Prevention & Control

As new infections and disease emerge in our health care settings, changes to standard Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices may be required. These current and past issues highlight the IPC resources created to manage these special cases.

Jump to topic:

• COVID-19
• Measles
• SARI - Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (MERS-CoV)
• IPC Tools for Disaster Management
• Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) / Ebola

COVID-19

Measles

• Suspect Measles (Rubeola) Info Sheet
• Patient Symptoms Alert Poster
• Visitor Alert Poster
• Measles Information for Public

SARI - Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (MERS-CoV)

SARI related IPC measures are based on currently available scientific evidence and guidelines and are subject to review and change as new information becomes available.

• Contact and Droplet Precautions Info Sheet
• Contact and Droplet Precautions
• Assessing the Need for Additional Precautions: Respiratory (ILI) Algorithm
• IPC Resource Manual - Acute Care
• Laboratory Guidance on Testing for Emerging Respiratory Viruses at ProvLab in Patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI)
• Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) Emerging Respiratory Pathogens and SARI information
• World Health Organization (WHO) Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

IPC Tools for Disaster Management

• Post Disaster Recommissioning of Healthcare Facilities Checklist
• IPC Commissioning of Portable Isolation Containment Systems Checklist
• IPC Considerations for Establishing an Evacuation Centre

Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) / Ebola

For general information visit our VHF / Ebola webpage. Ebola related IPC measures are based on currently available scientific evidence and guidelines and are subject to review and change as new information becomes available.

• Emergency Department & Urgent Care Centre VHF Triage Protocol (Screening & Rapid Assessment at presentation to ED/UCC)
• Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) & Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) Ebola Virus Disease (Ebola) Guidance for Acute Care Settings
• Contact and Droplet Precautions Suspect/Confirmed Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF)
• PPE Requirements for Suspect/Confirmed Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF)
• Room Entry Log
• VHF Donning and Doffing Area Setup

PPE Sequences

• Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) Suspected or Confirmed Personal Protective Equipment Donning COVERALLS
• Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) Suspected or Confirmed Personal Protective Equipment Doffing COVERALLS
• Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) Suspected or Confirmed Personal Protective Equipment Donning FLUID IMPERVIOUS GOWN
• Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) Suspected or Confirmed Personal Protective Equipment Doffing FLUID IMPERVIOUS GOWN
• Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) Personal Protective Equipment Donning for Buddy
• Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) Personal Protective Equipment Doffing for Buddy

PPE Checklists

• CHECKLIST VHF Suspected or Confirmed PPE Donning COVERALLS
• CHECKLIST VHF Suspected or Confirmed PPE Doffing COVERALLS
• CHECKLIST VHF Suspected or Confirmed PPE Donning FLUID IMPERVIOUS GOWN
• CHECKLIST VHF Suspected or Confirmed PPE Doffing FLUID IMPERVIOUS GOWN
• CHECKLIST VHF Suspected or Confirmed PPE Donning BUDDY
• CHECKLIST VHF Suspected or Confirmed PPE Doffing BUDDY

Cleaning and Waste Management

• Cleaning Protocol Standards for Occupied Patient Cubicle (Isolation) - see AHS intranet
• Cleaning Protocol Standards for Discharge/Transfer (Isolation) - see AHS intranet
• Ebola Waste Management Recommendations
• Ebola Waste Removal - POSTER

Human Factors

• Human Factors Evaluation of Simulated Ebola Virus Disease Patient

Training options for Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Training sessions for donning and doffing of specialized PPE commenced in October 2014 during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Subsequently VHF PPE training modules were created and are available on My Learning Link for AHS employees. These modules are also available for non-AHS employees on the IPC Personal Protective Equipment page.

The online modules are designed for tailored use to accommodate clinical department training needs.

Suggestions for how to use the VHF modules and to maintain preparedness include:

• An annual review (or more frequently) of the online modules to maintain staff awareness and content knowledge.
• An annual (or more frequent) review of the online modules, followed by live (in-person with practice PPE*) VHF PPE donning and doffing practice sessions.
• Just in time training for staff in the event of a VHF case or new outbreak.
• Training for new hires to become aware of the specialized PPE required for VHF.

*Infection Prevention and Control team members are available to support in-person training.