Interim Guidance - Avian Influenza A(H7N9) Virus

Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Acute CareFootnote a Settings

The Public Health Agency of Canada (the Agency) has developed this document to provide infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance to healthcare organizations and healthcare workers (HCWs) for the management of patients presenting to healthcare facilities in Canada, who have travelled from China and are suspected or confirmed to have Avian Influenza A(H7N9) infection.

See H7N9 avian influenza for a summary of information about confirmed cases including the probable places where infection has been acquired.

The content of this guidance has been informed by technical advice provided by members of the Agency's Infection Prevention and Control - Expert Working Group. This guidance is based on current, available scientific evidence and is subject to review and change as new information becomes available.

The following guidance should be read in conjunction with relevant provincial and territorial, and local legislation, regulations, and policies.

 

Infection Prevention and Control (IPC)PrecautionsFootnote b

(Refer to Recommended IPC Measures section below for details)

  • Routine Practices
    For all patients, at all times, in all healthcare settings including performing a point-of-care risk assessment (Appendix A), and adhering to respiratory hygiene and hand hygiene.
  • Contact and Droplet Precautions (should be implemented empirically)
    Wearing gloves and a long sleeve gown upon entering the patient’s roomFootnote c

    Wearing facial protection (maskFootnote d and eye protection, or face shields, or mask with visor attachment)Footnote e when within two metres of a patient suspected or confirmed to have H7N9 infection.
  • Airborne Precautions
    When performing aerosol-generating medical procedures (AGMPs)Footnote f .

    Wearing a respirator and face/eye protection should be used by all HCWs present in a room where an AGMP is being performed on a patient suspected or confirmed to have H7N9 infection.

Notes


Recommended Infection Prevention and Control Measures

The following guidance is based primarily on recommendations in the Agency’s Hand Hygiene Practices in Healthcare Settings guidelineFootnote 1, Routine Practices and Additional Precautions for Preventing the Transmission of Infection in Health Care guidelineFootnote 2,  the Infection Prevention and Control Measures for Healthcare Workers in Acute Care and Long-term Care Settings guidance-Seasonal InfluenzaFootnote 3, Infection Control Guideline for the Prevention of Healthcare-associated Pneumonia guidelineFootnote 4, and the Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan for the health sector - Annex F Footnote 5 ,along with the World Health Organization’s guidanceFootnote 6.

In addition to routine practices, patients suspected or confirmed to have H7N9 infection should be managed with Contact and Droplet Precautions, along with Airborne Precautions for aerosol generating medical procedures (AGMP).

  1. ORGANIZATIONAL CONTROLS
    A major role of all healthcare organizations is to minimize the risk of exposure to, and transmission of, microorganisms within healthcare settings. This can be achieved by having policies, procedures and programs based on the following engineering and administrative measures.
    1. Engineering Measures Facility design should include single rooms for the routine care of inpatients (with in-room private toilets, designated patient sinks, alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) dispensers and designated staff hand washing sinks), with an appropriate supply of and accessibility to personal protective equipment (PPE); accessible no-touch waste receptacles for disposal of paper towels, tissues, gloves, etc.; functioning dispensers for hand hygiene products (soap, lotion, paper towels and ABHR); designated staff hand washing sinks; and readily accessible point-of-care ABHR dispensers.
    2. Administrative Measures
      Policies and procedures should be developed and implemented for the prevention and control of the transmission of microorganisms including the application of routine practices and additional precautions, education programs, environmental cleaning, compliance for hand hygiene and auditing practices.  Healthcare facilities should provide tissues and masks for respiratory hygiene, as well as instructions on how and where to dispose of them, and on the importance of performing hand hygiene after handling these materials.
  2. TRIAGE/SCREENING/ASSESSMENT
    Signs to direct patients with symptoms of acute infection (e.g., cough, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, coryza, rash, conjunctivitis) should be posted in specific waiting areas.  A physical barrier (e.g., plastic partition at triage desk) should be located between infectious sources (e.g., patients with symptoms of a respiratory infection) and susceptible hosts.  Patients presenting with suspected or confirmed H7N9 infection should be assessed in a timely manner and placed on contact and droplet precautions. Accompanying individuals should be screened for symptoms of acute respiratory infection and managed as per this guidance document.
  3. SURVEILLANCE: Refer to the National Severe Acute Respiratory Infection case definition and the Emerging Respiratory Pathogens and Severe Acute Infection (SARI) Case Report Form.  
  4. LABORATORY TESTING/REPORTING
    All requests from acute care facilities for laboratory testing should be forwarded to your Provincial Public Health Laboratory. Should confirmation or further testing be required, the Provincial Public Health Laboratory may forward the sample to the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML). Standard practice is for the results generated by the NML to be reported to the submitting Provincial Public Health Laboratory.
  5. IMMUNIZATION
    There is no vaccine available at this time.
  6. RESPIRATORY HYGIENE
    Respiratory hygiene should be encouraged for patients and accompanying individuals who have signs and symptoms of an acute respiratory infection, beginning at the point of initial encounter in any healthcare setting (e.g., inpatient, triage, reception and waiting areas in emergency departments, outpatient clinics, etc.).  Respiratory hygiene includes coughing into one’s sleeve or preferably using tissues, masks when coughing, sneezing, or for controlling nasal secretions, and immediate disposal of tissues in an appropriate receptacle followed immediately by hand hygiene.
  7. HAND HYGIENE
    HCWs should perform hand hygiene frequently and in particular after removing gloves and gown; before removing a mask/facial protection or respirator; after touching respiratory secretions and after leaving the room; preferably using an alcohol based hand rub (60-90%) or soap and water if hands are visibly soiled.
  8. SPATIAL SEPARATION
    There should be at least a two metre separation between patients who have signs and symptoms of a suspected or confirmed H7N9 infection and all other patients/visitors. 
  9. PATIENT PLACEMENT AND ACCOMMODATION
    Patients suspected or confirmed to have H7N9 infection should be cared for in single rooms, if possible, with designated private toilets and patient sinks.   If cohorting is necessary, only patients who are confirmed to have H7N9 infection should be cohorted together.  Infection prevention and control signage should be placed at the room entrance indicating contact and droplet precautions required upon entry to the room.  Airborne infection isolation rooms should be used for aerosol-generating medical procedures whenever possible.
  10. PATIENT FLOW/ACTIVITIES

    Patients suspected or confirmed to have H7N9 infection should be restricted to their room and from group activities until symptoms have resolved.  Patient movement/transport should be restricted to essential diagnostic and therapeutic tests only.  If patients need to leave their room, they should wear a mask, be instructed on respiratory hygiene, be instructed on, or assisted with, hand hygiene, and be provided with clean clothes.

    Transfer within facilities should be avoided unless medically indicated.  If a medically indicated transfer is necessary the following measures should be taken:

    1. The transferring service and receiving unit should be advised of the required contact and droplet precautions for the patient being transported;
    2. A request to have the patient promptly seen to minimize time in waiting areas should be considered;
    3. The transport personnel should remove and dispose of their personal protective equipment and perform hand hygiene prior to transporting patients; and
    4. The transport personnel should put on clean personal protective equipment, if necessary to handle the patient during transport and at the transport destination.
  11. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
    Personal protective equipment (PPE) for contact and droplet precautions should be provided outside the room of the patient suspected or confirmed to have H7N9 infection.  HCWs, families and visitors should use the following PPE:

    1. Gloves

      Gloves should be worn upon entering the patient’s room (for care of the patient and for contact with the patient’s environment).  Gloves should be removed and discarded into a no-touch waste receptacle.

      Hand hygiene should be performed after removing gloves, upon exiting the patient’s room.

    2. Gowns

      A long-sleeved gown should be worn upon entering the patient’s room.  The gown should be removed and discarded into a no-touch receptacle.

      Hand hygiene should be performed after removing gowns, upon exiting the patient’s room.

    3. Facial protection

      Facial protection (masks and eye protection, or face shields, or mask with visor attachment) should be worn when within two metres of a patient suspected or confirmed with H7N9 infection.

      In a shared room/cohort setting of patients with confirmed H7N9 infection, facial protection may be worn for the care of successive patients.

    4. Respiratory Protection

      Wearing a respirator is recommended when performing aerosol generating medical procedures on a patient suspected or confirmed with H7N9 infection (refer to Section 12).

    5. Gloves, gown and facial protection should be removed before leaving the patient's room and discarded into a hands-free receptacle. The respirator should be removed after leaving the patient's room and discarded in a hands-free waste receptacle. Hand hygiene should be performed after removing gloves and gown, before removing facial protection and respirator, and upon exiting the patient's room.

  12. AEROSOL GENERATING MEDICAL PROCEDURES (AGMPs)

    AGMPs should be performed on patients suspected or confirmed to have H7N9 infection only if medically necessary.  The number of HCWs present during an AGMP should be limited to only those essential for patient care and support.  A respirator and face/eye protection is recommended for all HCWs present in a room where an AGMP is being performed on a patient suspected or confirmed to have H7N9 infection.

    AGMPs should be performed in airborne infection isolation rooms, whenever feasible.  If not feasible, AGMPs should be carried out using a process and in an environment that minimizes the exposure risk for HCWs, ensuring that non-infected patients/visitors and others in the healthcare setting are not unnecessarily exposed to the H7N9 virus.

  13. PATIENT CARE EQUIPMENT

    All equipment/supplies should be identified and stored in a manner that prevents use by or for other patients.  Reusable non-critical equipment (e.g., blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes, pulse oximeters, commodes, bedpans, walkers, etc.), along with toys, electronic games, personal effects, etc. should be dedicated to the use of the patient, and should be cleaned and disinfected before reuse with another patient.  Single-use devices should be discarded in a no-touch waste receptacle after use.

  14. ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANING

    Hospital-grade cleaning and disinfecting agents are sufficient for environmental cleaning for the H7N9 virus.  All horizontal and frequently touched surfaces should be cleaned at least twice daily and when soiled.  The healthcare organization’s terminal cleaning protocol for cleaning of the patient’s room following discharge, transfer, or discontinuation of contact and droplet precautions should be followed.

  15. HANDLING LINEN, DISHES, CUTLERY

    No special precautions are recommended; routine practices are sufficient.

  16. WASTE MANAGEMENT

    No special precautions are recommended; routine practices are sufficient.

  17. DISCONTINUING PRECAUTIONS

    Contact and droplet precautions for patients with H7N9 infection should be discontinued upon resolution of symptoms, or in accordance to provincial/territorial guidance or the organization’s policy.  Discontinuation of precautions should be made in conjunction with the infection prevention and control professional or delegate.

  18. EDUCATION OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS, PATIENTS, FAMILIES/VISITORS
    1. Healthcare Workers (HCWs)

      All HCWs should receive education on the influenza A (H7N9) virus, including measures to control its spread and to reinforce routine practices, contact and droplet precautions, and safe work practices (e.g., no eating or drinking in patient care areas).

    2. Patients, Families/Visitors

      Patients, families/visitors should receive education about the precautions being used; the duration of precautions; the prevention of transmission of infection to others; and use of appropriate PPE.

  19. MANAGEMENT OF VISITORS

    Individuals with symptoms of an acute respiratory infection should be referred for medical assessment and restricted from visiting except for compassionate reasons.  Those who do visit should be instructed in respiratory hygiene, use of PPE, and performing hand hygiene, and should limit their movement within the facility by visiting the patient directly and exiting directly after the visit.

    Visitors should be instructed to speak with a nurse before entering the room of a patient on contact/droplet precautions to evaluate the risk to the health of the visitor and the ability of the visitor to comply with precautions, including PPE and hand hygiene.  The number of visitors for a patient on contact/droplet precautions should be minimized to essential visitors (e.g., immediate family member/parent, guardian or primary caretaker) only.  Visitors should be restricted to visiting only one patient who is on contact/droplet precautions.  If the visitor must visit more than one patient, the visitor should be instructed to use PPE as HCWs and perform hand hygiene before going to the next patient’s room.

  20. HANDLING DECEASED BODIES

    Routine practices should be used, along with contact precautions as required, for handling deceased bodies, preparing them for autopsy, or transferring them to mortuary services.


References


Appendix A

Point-of-Care Risk Assessment for Influenza A (H7N9) Virus

Prior to any patient interaction, all healthcare workers (HCWs) have a responsibility to always assess the infectious risk posed to themselves and to other patients, visitors, and HCWs.  This risk assessment is based on professional judgment about the clinical situation and up-to-date information on how the specific healthcare organization has designed and implemented engineering and administrative controls, along with the availability and use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Point-of-Care Risk Assessment (PCRA) is an activity that should be performed by the HCW before every patient interaction, to:

  1. Evaluate the likelihood of exposure to H7N9 virus,
    • from a specific interaction (e.g., performing/assisting with aerosol-generating medical procedures, other clinical procedures/interaction, non-clinical interaction (i.e., admitting, teaching patient/family), transporting patients, direct face-to-face interaction with patients, etc.),
    • with a specific patient (e.g., infants/ young children, patients not capable of self care/hand hygiene, have poor-compliance with respiratory hygiene, copious respiratory secretions, frequent cough/sneeze, early stage of influenza illness, etc.),
    • in a specific environment (e.g., single rooms, shared rooms/washrooms, hallway,  influenza assessment areas, emergency departments, public areas, therapeutic departments, diagnostic imaging departments, housekeeping, etc.),
    • under available conditions (e.g., air exchanges in a large waiting area or in an airborne infection isolation room, patient waiting areas); AND
  2. Choose the appropriate actions/PPE needed to minimize the risk of patient, HCW/other staff, visitor, contractor, etc. exposure to the H7N9 virus.

PCRA is not a new concept, but one that is already performed regularly by HCWs many times a day for their safety and the safety of patients and others in the healthcare environment.  For example, when a HCW assesses a patient and situation to determine the possibility of blood or body fluid exposure or chooses appropriate PPE to care for a patient with an infectious disease, these actions are both activities of a PCRA.

References:

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