Q: How can we prepare for the coming respiratory illness season?
A: This fall and winter, facility staff may face outbreaks of several respiratory illnesses, including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19.
Nurse leaders, with the help of the infection preventionist, should start by re-educating all staff on hand washing and hand hygiene. To ensure compliance, have a plan for auditing hand hygiene. Keep “Clean Hands Count” posters from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted prominently and remind staff frequently of hand hygiene’s importance.
Educating residents and staff about cough etiquette also will help decrease the spread of respiratory illnesses.
Also teach staff signs and symptoms of influenza, RSV and COVID-19 so they can report them. When individuals present with respiratory illness symptoms, follow standard and droplet precautions to limit the spread. Maintain precautions for seven days after the onset of illness or 24 hours after the resolution of a fever, whichever is longer. Allow staff to stay home when sick.
The facility also can prepare by stocking up on personal protective equipment and reviewing proper donning and doffing with staff. An ample supply can help contain outbreaks — if used correctly.
Lastly, educate and offer vaccines. Influenza, RSV and COVID all have vaccines available. Ensure that the facility has them on hand and is offering them to eligible individuals to help prevent the spread of illness. Make sure nursing staff understand proper vaccine storage to maintain the efficacy of the vaccine.
Having a plan in place to identify and respond timely to respiratory illnesses will assist in mitigating the scale of the outbreak and can help ensure the safety of residents and staff.
From the November 2023 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
