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Infection: Don't Pass
It On
Infectious Disease Emergencies
Some infectious diseases, such as:
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
- Smallpox
- Monkeypox
- Avian Influenza
- and certain forms of hemorrhagic fevers
...
are so highly contagious and dangerous that they
require a combination of Contact and Airborne
Isolation Precautions to prevent transmission, and
therefore are considered infectious disease
emergencies. Several VA infection control
professionals have been involved in developing and
reviewing information for the campaign, “Infection:
Don’t Pass It On” (IDPIO), working particularly on
materials on the use of Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE) in preparation for
infectious disease emergencies.
VA IDPIO campaign staff sought existing material on
how to don and safely remove PPE and there was very
little available. In response, they developed
three PPE posters and addressed
Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ) on PPE and suggestions for use of PPE
posters. Posters have been sent to VA infection
control professionals for use in emergencies and in
training sessions. Additional copies and Spanish
versions are available to order through facility
education contacts or to download.
How does hand hygiene fit into the picture in an
emergency? It remains critical. CDC reports that
investigations of disease outbreaks show an
association between infections and understaffing or
overcrowding, with a consistent link to lack of hand
hygiene practices. Hand cleaning must be done even
if gloves are worn – all of the new PPE posters
include steps of hand cleaning before donning PPE
(including gloves) and entering an affected
patient’s room, after removing PPE, and before
leaving the room.
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| Reviewed/Updated Date:
October 19, 2006 |
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