Seasonal Influenza

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• Seasonal Influenza
• 2009-2010
• and
• Hand Hygiene Modules

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Why should I be concerned about influenza?

• I work with cancer patients.
• I care about people.
• My patients, my family, my co-workers can get the
  flu from me if I am not vaccinated.
• Working with people with illness puts me at
  higher risk for infection.
• Preventing influenza can save lives.

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What is Influenza?

• Influenza, also known as the flu, is a contagious
  viral illness that targets the respiratory tract
  (nose, throat, airways lungs).
• Influenza can cause serious complications,
  including pneumonia and death.
• The flu is the most frequent cause of
  vaccine-preventable death in the US.
• Causes 36,000 deaths per year and 200,000
  hospitalizations per year

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How do I know it is the Influenza?

• Infection usually has a sudden onset, lasting
  about a week, and may cause some of the following
  symptoms
• fever
• headache
• aching muscles physical discomfort
• dry cough
• sore throat
• runny nose

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I think I just have a cold
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How is influenza spread?

• The virus is easily spread from one person to
  another through droplets formed when coughing or
  sneezing.
• It can also be spread from hand to hand contact
  or by touching a surface that might be
  contaminated with infected droplets.

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When is someone contagious?

• Persons with the flu should be considered
  contagious for up to seven days after symptoms
  start.
• In some cases, it may be possible for flu to be
  transmitted even the day before symptoms are
  noticed.

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Flu Prevention at Work Home

• Get vaccinated (flu shot)
• Clean your hands frequently
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose mouth
• Keep surfaces disinfected
• Wipe down keyboards, telephones, doorknobs
  other shared surfaces with antiseptic wipes
• Respiratory Etiquette Cover your mouth nose
  when you cough or sneeze
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue
• No tissue??? Cough or sneeze
• into your sleeve
• Now clean your hands

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What is the Flu Shot and Who should get it?

• Inactivated (not live) virus is injected, usually
  in the upper arm.
• ALL PERSONS WORKING IN HEALTH CARE SETTINGS
• Children between 6 mos. and 19 yrs of age
• People over 50 yrs of age
• People with certain chronic health conditions
• Family members caring for someone at risk
• of complications from the flu
• Pregnant women

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Is the Flu Shot Effective?

• Yes!! the effectiveness of the annual flu shot
  has been scientifically established.
• Effectiveness depends on the match between the
  vaccine and which strain of virus circulates
  during the flu season.
• Even when the match is not optimal, the flu shot
  is still effective in preventing illness.

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How does the influenza vaccine work?

• Within 2 weeks, your bodys defenses produce
  antibodies against the influenza virus.
• If you get the flu, you are far less likely to
  become infected, and if infected, would
  experience milder symptoms.

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When should I get vaccinated?

• The best time to get vaccinated is October or
  November.
• But even later in the season, the vaccine still
  provides protection.

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Reminding our Visitors

• Keeping our patients safe also means reminding
  our visitors about signs and symptoms of the flu.
• There is signage posted at the entrance of all
  inpatient units and in Ambulatory waiting rooms.
• The reminder tells visitors to postpone their
  visit if they have flu-like symptoms

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Hand Hygiene StandsNew At Karmanos

• Are located at main entrance, Ambulatory waiting
  rooms, Infusion Center and Farmington Hills
  location
• The new stands promote Flu Prevention

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Flu Myth 1

• The flu is no worse than a bad cold
• FALSE
• Influenza is more severe and dangerous than the
  common cold. The flu can lead to pneumonia and
  death.

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Flu Myth 2

• The flu shot can give you the flu
• FALSE
• The vaccine contains inactivated influenza, and
  cannot cause the flu.
• It is possible to experience certain
  uncomfortable side effects such as soreness at
  the site of injection, mild fever, body aches or
  headache.
• If these side effects do occur, they are mild and
  short-lived in comparison with the actual flu,
  and are NOT contagious.

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Flu Myth 3

• Only old people those who are sick need a flu
  shot
• FALSE
• Anyone who cannot afford to get sick from the
  flu, and anyone who is in contact with people
  that might be harmed by the flu should get
  vaccinated.
• This includes healthy adults, children and all
  persons working in health care.

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HAND HYGIENE is so IMPORTANT that

• It is a Joint Commission National Patient Safety
  Goal
• Staff compliance to hand hygiene is measured
• monthly and reported monthly to the units
• Patients and families are encouraged to ask us
• to clean our hands
• Every Karmanos health care worker should remind
• each other to clean hands appropriately

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Healthcare workers hands can also become
contaminated by contact with the patient care
environment not just the patient!!!
In this study, each X shows where bacteria were
cultured in a room that had been occupied by a
patient with an infection.
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• Every year 5 to 10 percent of inpatients develop
• infections resulting in 98,000 deaths nationally.
• 98,000 deaths equals
• More deaths than those caused by breast cancer,
  colon cancer and stroke combined
• Equivalent to a 747 plane crash killing all
  passengers/crew every other day
• One death every 6 minutes

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• Healthcare workers should perform hand hygiene
• before and after direct contact with patients
• before and after removing gloves
• before handling an invasive device for patient
  care
• after contact with blood, body fluids or
  excretions,
• mucous membranes, or wound dressings
• after contact with contaminated items, such as
  medical
• equipment, medical waste, soiled linen
• after contact with objects in the immediate
  vicinity of
• the patient, such as bedside trays, bedrails,
  phone, etc.

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Health care workers should perform hand hygiene

• after sneezing or coughing, or disposing of
  tissues
• before and after handling medication
• before and after preparing food
• before and after using the restroom

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• Alcohol Hand Rubs
• Alcohol hand rubs
• have been shown to
• Be more effective in reducing
• bacteria on hands than soap and
• water
• Require less time to use
• Reduce hand irritation and
• dryness with repeated use
• Rub a sufficient amount of alcohol
• foam over entire surface of hands
• until completely dry

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Soap and Water Wash Handwashing with soap and
water is required when hands are visibly
dirty or visibly soiled with blood or other
body fluids. Wash with soap and warm water for
at least 15 seconds. Rinse with warm water and
turn off faucet with paper towel.
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Hand Hygiene Score Card
How often do healthcare workers REALLY clean
their hands between patients?
Many observation studies show that HCW
use proper hand hygiene only of the time!
20 - 50
THIS ISNT GOOD ENOUGH! WE MUST BE 100!!
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• Use ONLY Karmanos-approved hand
• soaps, alcohol rubs, and lotions
• Lotions from home are not approved for
• use in hospitals because
• They can damage the gloves you wear and cause
  leaks
• They easily become contaminated and actually put
  more bacteria on your skin
• They interfere with the antiseptic soaps

Karmanos-approved hand lotion
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• Artificial nails hide dangerous germs and
  increase the risk of spreading bacteria between
  healthcare workers and patients!
• Karmanos policy regarding fingernails
• Artificial nails (including gels and
• wraps) are not allowed.
• All nails should be nicely trimmed
• and should not be more than
• ¼ inch long
• Nail polish should not be chipped
• Jewels or ornaments should not be
• attached to the nails

This fashion statement can harm patients!
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Got 15 seconds to save a life?
HAND HYGIENE ... it's the RIGHT THING TO DO!
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