Management of In-patients with Loose Stools ... - NHS Lanarkshire

Note: Completion
of Review
NHS Lanarkshire
Health Protection Committee
Section E1
Effective From Sep 2010
Replaces Jun 2010
Pages 12 of 31
SECTION E 1 - Management of In-patients with
Loose Stools: Gastrointestinal Outbreak
Review Date March 2013
Health Protection Committee approved review date extension to March 2013
Ensure contaminated linen is disposed of as foul/infected and other materials are handled in
the correct manner (Section D, I & K, Control of Infection Manual)
Where staff are affected, ensure that the protocol for employees with gastrointestinal illness
is strictly adhered to. All symptomatic staff should be referred to SALUS Occupational
Health
Ensure that, during outbreaks, staff do not travel to and from work in their uniforms. The
uniforms should be transported to and from work in a clean polythene bag. If uniforms are
contaminated by blood/body fluid they must be handled according to the section within the
Uniform Policy, Guidelines for Staff Laundering their Uniforms at home.
Issue patients and visitors with an information leaflet on Vomiting and Diarrhoea. Where
necessary relatives should be issued with leaflet in relation to laundering patients clothes
Ensure a high standard of cleanliness is maintained at all times throughout the ward
Ensure that the Aide Memoir Checklist (Appendix 8) is completed and signed off each day
and returned to the ICT at the end of the outbreak
DUTIES OF THE INFECTION CONTROL TEAM
If practical visit the affected area on a daily basis, if not then phone the area daily
Ensure that staff adhere to outbreak control measures.
Liaise with the Nurse in Charge/Senior Manager for Nursing and the Microbiologist on a
daily basis.
To ensure all control measures are in place, utilise Aid Memoir form within (Appendix 8)
as a point of reference. This should be left with the Nurse in Charge of the Ward and signed
off each day
Where appropriate e.g. Salmonella infection, full food histories should be obtained, in
consultation with the Consultant in Public Health Medicine, to allow for a more in depth
analysis to be done.
Ensure that all the relevant information is collated accurately and that the Daily Outbreak
Record Form (Appendix 6) is readily available, and fully maintained.
Ensure the Form (Appendix 8) is fully maintained on a daily basis
Issue a daily update on the outbreak situation to all relevant parties by e-mail.
Complete a summary report template on completion of the outbreak
Conduct a debriefing exercise
E 12