CDC issues stronger standards for Ebola healthcare workers

Updated protocols include personal protective equipment that covers the entire body and leaves no skin exposed


The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued more robust standards for workers treating Ebola and other deadly infectious diseases, according to an article on the Modern Healthcare website.

CDC officials acknowledged that previous recommendations did not work in the case of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, where two nurses were infected while treating Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan.

The updated protocols include personal protective equipment that covers the entire body and leaves no skin exposed.

Other recommendations include:

• Wearing two sets of gloves

• Wearing boot covers that are waterproof and go to at least mid-calf or cover the legs

• Single-use fluid resistant or impermeable gown that extends to at least mid-calf or coverall without intergraded hood

• Using respirators, including either N95 respirator masks or powered-air purifying respirator (PAPR)

• Single-use, full-face shield that is disposable

• Surgical hoods to ensure complete coverage of the head and neck

• An apron that is waterproof and covers the torso to the level of the mid-calf should be used if Ebola patients have vomiting or diarrhea

Read the article.

 

 



October 22, 2014


Topic Area: Safety


Recent Posts

What 'Light' Daily Cleaning of Patient Rooms Misses

Most environmental services workers still clean as if they were wiping dust off a countertop, not disrupting a living, structured community.


Sprinkler Compliance: Navigating Code Mandates, Renovation Triggers and Patient Safety

As CMS deadlines approach and renovation projects accelerate, healthcare facility managers must understand how NFPA 101, state fire codes and sprinkler design strategies intersect.


MUSC Board of Trustees Approves $1.1B South Carolina Cancer Hospital

Research and education are intentionally embedded in the hospital’s design, with dedicated spaces for scientific collaboration, clinical investigation and training.


Study Outlines Hand Hygiene Guidelines for EVS Staff

Researchers find that current guidelines for hand hygiene don’t include EVS workers and suggest indicators to fill that gap.


McCarthy Completes $65M Sharp Rees-Stealy Kearny Mesa MOB Modernization

The completed tenant improvement includes approximately 100,000 square feet of improved space across two buildings and represents an investment of $65 million.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.