TRANSITIONAL LIVING, INC.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
TITLE Infection Control Page 1 of 6
NUMBER 600C EFFECTIVE DATE October 21, 1997
November 28, 2000
AUTHORIZED BY REVISION DATE January 16, 2003
POLICY: To protect the health of clients and staff, and to prevent unnecessary exposure to, or spread of communicable diseases/infections, Transitional Living, Inc. promotes the control of infection through maintaining a program of education, prevention, and surveillance.
PROCEDURE:
1. The Medical Director approves the Infection Control Program.
2. In the month of October, the Health and Safety Committee, meets at least to analyze and review data collected during the period regarding health problems experienced by staff and clients, to institute or change policies and procedures and to recommend in-service education programs.
3. Program Directors are responsible for assuring that staff are informed and follow the agency infection policies and procedures.
A. In outpatient services:
1) The potential for transmission of infections is limited to those transmitted by non-direct physical contact.
2) The highest potential for transmission of infections is “airborne” (i.e., respiratory transmitted by coughing, sneezing, etc.).
3) Physical contact is limited to hand-shaking, limited medical care, and use of common equipment (e.g., telephone, bathrooms).
4. Prevention Measures - Transitional Living, Inc. takes specific prevention measures to prevent transmission of infections. These include:
A. Encouraging staff to obtain medical care for treatment of infections as evidenced by subsidized health care plans and sick time being available after three months of employment.
B. Notification of staff in the fall regarding Flu Season, of the availability of flu shots through their physicians, and encouraging staff to stay home, if they are sick.
TITLE Infection Control Page 2 of 6
NUMBER 600C EFFECTIVE DATE October 21, 1997
November 28, 2000
AUTHORIZED BY REVISION DATE January 16, 2003
C. Infection control is initiated at the earliest possible time and prior to the first transmission to others by following the handwashing procedure in any of the following situations to prevent the spread of diseases.
1) After using the toilet.
2) Before and after eating or smoking.
3) Before, between, and after handling food (e.g., chicken, any raw meat).
4) After working with a chart.
5) After touching someone.
6) After blowing your nose.
7) After cleaning a toilet.
8) After removing latex/vinyl gloves
5. Sterile Supplies and Equipment - Transitional Living, Inc. limits its use of sterile supplies and equipment to the use of those indicated on the Sterile Supplies/ Equipment list. Staff and volunteers are instructed in policies regarding the use of the coffee service.
6. Client and Staff Education
A. As part of their orientation, clients and staff are instructed that they are to call in sick and remain at home if they are experiencing vomiting, diarrhea, frequent sneezing and/or frequent coughing.
B. Clients and staff are also instructed to call in sick and remain at home if they are aware of having any contagious diseases listed in the Contagious Diseases Policy.
C. Any client or staff member who comes to a program of Transitional Living, Inc. under the conditions indicated in Procedures A and/or B listed immediately above will be sent home by order of the Chief Executive Officer.
TITLE Infection Control Page 3 of 6
NUMBER 600C EFFECTIVE DATE October 21, 1997
November 28, 2000
AUTHORIZED BY REVISION DATE January 16, 2003
D. All clients and staff are encouraged to wash their hands appropriately with soap and water for at least thirty (30) seconds after having any contact with their own or others’ body fluids or waste, and before every meal.
E. In the event of a spill of body fluids (vomitus, urine, etc.), staff are to clean up the spill. Staff are required to wear protective gloves and use designated procedures when cleaning up such spills (see Policy 605C - Handling Potentially Hazardous Human Waste and Body Fluids).
F. In the event of a need to contact body fluids (e.g., helping to put a band-aid on a cut), the staff person involved is to always wear latex/vinyl gloves.
G. When the use of gloves is indicated, the gloves are to be disposed of after one use and the staff person is to thoroughly wash his/her hands with soap and water.
H. Latex/vinyl gloves are kept in designated places in each facility.
I. At the discretion of their supervisor, staff members who return to work with infections may be sent home.
J. Personnel with documented streptococcal laryngitis need not undergo a repeat throat culture during or after antibiotic treatment and may return to work twenty-four (24) hours after initiation of appropriate chemotherapy, depending on their clinical status.
K. Personnel with draining or crusted skin lesions (e.g., Staphylococcal or Streptococcal Skin Disease) should see their physician for evaluation and treatment. Employees are not to return to work until cultures for the causative organism are negative or until written permission has been given by their physician.
L. Because of their ubiquitousness, a variable proportion of personnel may be asymptomatic carriers of Upper Respiratory Staphylococci, Streptococci, Meningococci, and similar infectious organisms. Such organisms only rarely have general significance in residential settings. However, when indicated by appropriate epidemiologic circumstances, the identification, evaluation, and management of carriers among the staff will be undertaken by the organization.
TITLE Infection Control Page 4 of 6
NUMBER 600C EFFECTIVE DATE October 21, 1997
November 28, 2000
AUTHORIZED BY REVISION DATE January 16, 2003
7. Employee Infections, Work Status, and Duration of Time Off Work
Infection Work Status Duration of Time Off Work
Draining abscess, Off work. Until drainage stops, if
boils and so forth employee has clients, employee may
work if drainage can be dressed
for no contact by clients.
Chickenpox Off work. For seven days after eruption first
(varicella) appears in normal host, provided
lesions are dry when staff member
returns to work.
Diarrhea Variable Individually determined, depending
· Shigella on the extent of symptoms and
Salmonella results of cultures. Negative stool
cultures before returning to work
for food handlers.
Gonorrhea May work
· Hepatitis A Off work. Must bring release to return to work
from private physician upon returning to work.
· Hepatitis B Off work. Must bring release to return to work
from private physician upon returning to work.
Herpes Simplex Off work. Evaluation by supervisor, depending
on work area.
TITLE Infection Control Page 5 of 6
NUMBER 600C EFFECTIVE DATE October 21, 1997
November 28, 2000
AUTHORIZED BY REVISION DATE January 16, 2003
Infection Work Status Duration of Time Off Work
Herpes Zoster No client contact. If able to work, may do so.
· Influenza and URI Off work. Evaluation by supervisor, depending on work area.
Impetigo Off work. No client contact until crusts are
gone.
· German measles Off work. Until rash is cleared (minimum of
(rubeola) five days).
· Measles (rubeola) Off work. Until rash is cleared minimum of
four days).
· Mononucleosis Off work. At discretion of private physician.
Positive PPD Off work. Evaluation and follow-up by private
Conversion physician.
· Active TB Off work. Until treatment smears are
negative for two weeks.
Scabies Off until treatment.
TITLE Infection Control Page 6 of 6
NUMBER 600C EFFECTIVE DATE October 21, 1997
November 28, 2000
AUTHORIZED BY REVISION DATE January 16, 2003
Infection Work Status Duration of Time Off Work
Strep Throat Off work. May work after being placed on
-appropriate antibiotic and/or is
symptom-free.
· If an employee is off work with any of the above illnesses, he/she may return to work only if he/she has written permission to do so from his/her personal physician.
Attachments: A: Handwashing Technique
B: Sterile Supplies/Equipment list
C: Location of Latex/Vinyl Gloves In Each Facility.
January 16, 2003
October 21, 1997 November 28, 2000
______
Date Originated Reviewed/Amended Initials
Handwashing Technique
1. Stand away from the sink to not have clothing in contact with the sink.
2. Turn the water on and adjust to warm temperature. Keep water running during the entire procedure.
3. Wet the hands.
4. Apply soap thoroughly; including under fingernails and between fingers.
5. Wash the palms and backs of hands with a strong, frictional motion.
6. Wash the fingers and spaces between them, interlacing the fingers and rubbing them up and down.
7. Wash the wrists and above wrists for three or four inches, using rotary action.
8. Pay special attention to any problem areas.
9. Rinse well; run water from wrists to fingers for a final rinse.
10. Dry thoroughly from the wrists to the fingertips with paper toweling.
11. Turn off the water with paper toweling and discard the toweling in a proper receptacle.
Sterile Supplies/Equipment
4 x 4 gauze/sponge
Syringes, insulin, TB, 1cc, 3cc
Syringe needles, 20 gauge
Bandages
5 x 9 combine dressings
Lubricating jelly
U/a cups
Specimen cups
Attachment toPollicy 600C
Location of Latex/Vinyl Gloves In Each Facility
All sizes and types are available at the 2052 Princeton Road base for site replacement. Includes small, medium, large, and latex free in all three sizes.
On site locations: (all locations have small, medium, and large with latex free available upon request.)
§ The Apartment Program staff office
§ The Pinecrest Group Home staff office
§ Park Avenue office building – gloves in all sizes are located in the hall by First Aid/Janitor close area
§ Central Avenue office building – gloves in all sizes are located on the supply shelf in reception area
§ The Princeton Road office/outpatient building – gloves in all sizes are located in the Clinic, the janitor’s closet, and beside the first aid station in the reception area
Attachment to Policy 600C