Thursday
Aug132009
Medical Expert Suggests Precautions Health Care Workers Can Take To Prevent Spread Of Swine Flu
Thursday, August 13, 2009 at 2:29PM
By Annie Berman
In a panel discussion held at the Institute of Medicine on Thursday, doctors and researchers suggested that disposable respirators, hand hygiene stations, and protective eye wear be used by health care workers to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu.
Leonard Mermel, Medical Director at the Department of Epidemiology and Infection Control at Rhode Island Hospital, described cough etiquette stations that his hospital is using to prevent the spread of infection. These stations have hand sanitizer dispensers, face masks, and instructions for cough etiquette, and are located at every entrance to the hospital building.
“[We need] to do a better job of educating our health care workers as well as the patients and families and why it’s important for them to for example, don a mask, how to do it, why it’s important for them to do hand hygiene. This can’t be overemphasized,” said Mermel.
As for other ways to combat the spread of infection, Mermel suggested that health care workers across the country undergo daily screening for fever and other respiratory symptoms before they begin their shifts. He also suggested that hospitals be properly ventilated and that building temperatures remain at 68 degrees and relative indoor humidity be raised to 50%.
The first outbreak of swine flu was reported in Mexico this past spring and cases of the virus have been reported in the United States and abroad since. For more information on the H1N1 virus visit www.cdc.gov/H1N1.
In a panel discussion held at the Institute of Medicine on Thursday, doctors and researchers suggested that disposable respirators, hand hygiene stations, and protective eye wear be used by health care workers to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu.
Leonard Mermel, Medical Director at the Department of Epidemiology and Infection Control at Rhode Island Hospital, described cough etiquette stations that his hospital is using to prevent the spread of infection. These stations have hand sanitizer dispensers, face masks, and instructions for cough etiquette, and are located at every entrance to the hospital building.
“[We need] to do a better job of educating our health care workers as well as the patients and families and why it’s important for them to for example, don a mask, how to do it, why it’s important for them to do hand hygiene. This can’t be overemphasized,” said Mermel.
As for other ways to combat the spread of infection, Mermel suggested that health care workers across the country undergo daily screening for fever and other respiratory symptoms before they begin their shifts. He also suggested that hospitals be properly ventilated and that building temperatures remain at 68 degrees and relative indoor humidity be raised to 50%.
The first outbreak of swine flu was reported in Mexico this past spring and cases of the virus have been reported in the United States and abroad since. For more information on the H1N1 virus visit www.cdc.gov/H1N1.
Sebelius: WHO Will Have Access To 10 Percent Of Swine Flu Vaccine
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said that the World Health Organization will have access to 10 percent of the new H1N1 vaccine.
“Joining Australia, Brazil, Switzerland, New Zealand, Italy, France, Norway, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom are countries that have either donated vaccine or donated its purchase power,” Sebelius said.
The Secretary said $34 million was donated to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) stockpile of antiviral medication this year.
PAHO met Monday to discuss health threats, such as the H1N1 virus, throughout the world, and what is being done to treat and prevent diseases in various Latin American countries.
“PAHO has become the first line of defense in combating [H1N1]," the Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau, Dr. Mirta Roses Periago said Monday. "We have faced up to this major health challenge. We have expressed solidarity with the countries and families that have lost human life."