Respiratory Illnesses in Emergency Departments
Source: Joint Commission Perspectives on Patient Safety, Volume 8, Number 1, January 2008 , pp. 8-13(6)
Publisher: Joint Commission Resources
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Abstract:
Communicable respiratory threats like influenza, tuberculosis (TB), and emergent respiratory threats represent a serious public health risk in emergency departments (EDs). Respiratory illnesses are a hazard not only for patients, but for visitors and staff as well. Because of the acute nature of respiratory illnesses, EDs often serve as both the principal site of care, as well as the health care site posing the greatest potential threat of hospital outbreaks and pandemic respiratory threats. Strategies for preventing the spread of respiratory illnesses in EDs include the following: vaccination of all eligible patients and health care staff, implementation of standardized policies and protocol for infected individuals including use of personal protection equipment (PPE), active surveillance, hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and patient education.Document Type: Research article
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