Infection Prevention Manual

EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN 4. Agency staff and patients will be screened for exposure to TB. A. All agency staff who have not previously converted to a positive Mantoux PPD will be screened for exposure to TB on hire and as indicated by the agency risk assessment using the Mantoux PPD test administered and interpreted by a physician, ARNP or trained personnel. B. If the agency staff being screened for exposure to TB on hire does not have documentation of a PPD within the past six months, two step testing will be used: If the reaction to the first test is negative, a second test will be given in 1 to 3 weeks, (de Agency may receive from Employee’s physician only the full/final second result). C. Agency staff who have converted to positive Mantoux PPD will not be given a Mantoux PPD test on hire, but will be requested to submit a baseline negative chest x-ray report. During the annual physical exam the employee will be assessed for symptoms of TB and if symptoms are noted or develop at any time a chest x-ray will then be obtained. D. The patient's physician will be notified immediately when a patient exhibits signs and symptoms of TB on initial assessment to the agency or at any time during the patient's admission. E. Patients with suspected or confirmed TB will be reported immediately to the local health department. F. Population considered at high risk include the following (CDC definition): (1) Persons with HIV infection or with risk factors for HIV infection (2) Persons with pulmonary signs or symptoms (3) African Americans (4) Asians and Pacific Islanders (5) American Indians (6) Alaskan Natives (7) Hispanics (8) Current or past prison inmates (9) Alcoholics (10) Intravenous (IV) drug users (11) Elderly persons (12) Foreign-born persons from areas of the world with a high prevalence of TB (Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America) (13) Persons living in the same household as members of these groups Respiratory Hygiene Practices: to prevent the transmission of all respiratory infections in healthcare settings, including influenza, the following infection control measures should be implemented at the first point of contact with a potentially infected person. They should be incorporated into infection control practices as one component of Standard Precautions. 1. Visual Alerts : (in appropriate languages) instructing patients and persons who accompany them (e.g., family, friends) to inform healthcare personnel of symptoms of a respiratory infection (cough, shorts of breaths problems, running nose, fatigues, sneezing) when they are under our care and to practice Respiratory Hygiene/Cough Etiquette. 2. Cover Your Cough: Stop the spread of germs that can make you and others sick! Influenza (flu) and other serious respiratory illnesses like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), whooping cough, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) are spread by cough, sneezing, or unclean hands. To help stop the spread of germs: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, put your used tissue in the waste basket, if you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands, you may be asked to put on a facemask to protect others, wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds, if soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub. 3. Information about Personal Protective Equipment, demonstrates the sequences for donning and removing personal protective equipment