Here,
we’ll outline how we can curtail the risk of transmission of infection on the
ward between patients, staff or from staff to patient and vice versa. Whereas
these outlined principles can be used in other disease scenarios, please keep
COVID-19 in mind while you read;
- Universal masking; the wearing of mask
is not restricted to only clinical staffs but patients’ visitors and all
persons at the facility.
- Triaging and Isolation; kindly take
note that in the absence of the Isolation units, all staffs are to isolate clients
with respiratory symptom – at the distance place in the unit whiles awaiting
test results. Nurse clients with same respiratory symptoms at distance area and
avoid combining them with the total patients on the wards.
- Terminal cleaning; ensure that any area
used for suspected cases is cleaned and decontaminated using the hypochlorite
solutions and the recommended PPEs.
- Regular Hand washing is the single most
effective way of breaking the chain of infection and it is highly recommended
before any procedure, after contact with patients and surroundings, before any
aseptic procedure, after contact with blood, respiratory secretions, other body
fluids or objects contaminated with respiratory secretions.
- Alcohol Hand Rub is
helpful in breaking the chain of infection but should not be a substitute for
hand washing in situations where hands come into contact with blood and body
fluids. Let's practice Hand washing most frequently at the workplaces and
beyond.
- Risk assessments; kindly assess the
risk of the procedures you will be performing and use the recommended PPEs. For
example, during nebulization and other procedures where aerosol generations are
highly possible, make good use of the eye googles, face shield and the
respiratory mask N95.
- Ensure
clients make good use of the facemasks, practice handwashing and observe all
other IPC protocols.
- Cohort areas;
an area within the ward with 2 beds can be designated for suspected cases
whiles awaiting test results for the SARS COV-2 virus.
- Staff
Cohorting; kindly assign one staff to care for a particular patient with
respiratory symptoms and avoid generalized staff nursing care to reduce the
risk of infections among health workers.
- All
staffs should observe the standard precautions when necessary and let's avoid
cluster of staffs at the nurses’ station.
- If
you are having respiratory symptoms depicting SARS COV-2 virus, kindly isolate
and get tested at the facility and avoid spreading to other staffs at the
facility.
- Observe
all the standard precautions after exiting the facilities to your home.
- Refrain
from touching the eyes, nose and mouth with contaminated gloves or bare hands.
- If
equipment such as stethoscopes and blood pressure cuffs are to be shared among
patients, kindly clean and disinfect with 70% ethyl alcohol.
- Medical
mask should not be touched or adjusted and if displaced from the face, in such
instances replacement is recommended and hand hygiene should be performed.
- Medical
masks must be changed when wet, soiled and damaged or after removal when eating
or caring for a suspected case.
- Properly
segregate and dispose off waste as infectious or general waste.
- Large
spills of blood and body fluids of volume more than 10mls, a concentration of
0.5% hypochlorite solutions should be used after as a disinfectant.
- Early
detection and screening of suspected cases and prompt isolation of confirmed
cases at the treatment centers.
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