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COVID-19: CDC Recommendations for Healthcare Professionals

March 12, 2020 Posted by Remede in Blog

Remede… You Care About Patients… We Care About You!

Here at Remede, we are committed to maintaining a healthy work environment for all our staff. With the recent increase of coronavirus cases across the country, we want to ensure our staff are informed of the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) guidance to control the transmission of the virus. Please review the information below and/or check out the CDC website (reference list provided). If you should have any questions and/or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us @ 516-616-6800.

What is coronavirus (COVID-19)?

There are many types of human coronaviruses including some that commonly cause mild upper-respiratory tract illnesses. COVID-19 is a new disease, cause by a novel (or new) coronavirus that has not previously been seen in humans. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. Some cause illness in people, and others, such as canine and feline coronaviruses, only infect animals. Rarely, animal coronaviruses that infect animals have emerged to infect people and can spread between people. This is suspected to have occurred for the virus that causes COVID-19, which started in China.

The virus that causes COVI-19 seem to be spreading easily and sustainably in the community (“community Spread”), in some affected geographic areas. Community spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected.

The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.

  • Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
  • Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. The symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath.

Recognizing persons at risk for COVID-19 is a critical component of identifying cases and preventing further transmission. With the expanding spread of COVID-19, additional areas of geographic risk are being identified and monitoring criteria are being updated to reflect this spread. To prepare for possible additional person-to-person spread of COVID-19 in the United States, the CDC continues to recommend that clinicians and state and local health departments consider COVID-19 in patients with severe respiratory illness even in the absence of travel history to affected areas or known exposure to another case.

Who is at risk for severe disease from COVID-19?

Early information out of China, where COVID-19 first started, shows that some people are at higher risk of getting very sick from this illness. This includes:

  • Older adults
  • People who have serious chronic medical conditions like:
    • Heart disease
    • Diabetes
    • Lung disease

How do I protect myself and others?

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being in a public area, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
    • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Put distance between your self and other people, especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your mouth & nose with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash or sanitize your hands accordingly.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
  • Follow the CDC’s recommendations for using a face mask.
    • The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19, unless caring for someone who is sick.
    • Face masks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others.
    • Healthcare workers should follow facility protocol on the use of face masks in caring for patients with respiratory illnesses.

Guidelines for Healthcare Professionals, who enter the room of a patient with known or suspected COVID-19

  • Adhere to Standard Precautions and use a respirator or facemask, gown, gloves, and eye protection.
  • Hand Hygiene
    • Perform hand hygiene before and after all patient contact, contact with potentially infectious material, and before putting on and after removing PPE, including gloves. Hand hygiene after removing PPE is particularly important to remove any pathogens that might have been transferred to bard hand during the removal process.
    • Perform hand hygiene by using hand sanitizer with 60-95% alcohol or washing hands with soap & water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Personal Protective Equipment
    • Respirator or Facemask – put on before entry into the patient room
    • N95 respirators should be used instead of a facemask when performing or present for an aerosol-generating procedure.
  • Eye Protection
    • Put on eye protection (i.e. goggles or a disposable face shield that covers the front and sides of the face) upon entry to the patient room. Personal eyeglasses are NOT considered adequate eye protection.
    • Remove eye protection before leaving patient room
  • Gloves
    • Put on clean, non-sterile gloves upon entering patient room. Change gloves if they become torn or heavily contaminated.
    • Remove & discard gloves when leaving patient room and immediately perform hand hygiene.
  • Gowns
    • Put on a clean isolation gown upon entering the patient room.  Change the gown if it becomes soiled. Remove and discard gown in a dedicated container for waste or linen before leaving the patient room. Disposable gowns should be discarded after use.
  • Self-Monitoring
    • Monitor yourself for fever by taking temperature twice daily and remain alert for respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath, sore throat).  Some facilities with an increased incidence of COVID-19 patients, may consider measuring temperature and assessing for respiratory symptoms, prior to allowing you to start work. Please follow all facility protocol.

References:

Centers for Disease Control. (2020). Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-2019). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Centers for Disease Control. (2020). Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-2019). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/infection-control/control-recommendations.html. Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Healthcare Settings