Outbreak Guidelines
C.difficile Toolkit
Many people carry Clostridium difficile without having any symptoms. However, those with C.difficile illness may experience abdominal pain and tenderness, fever, loss of appetite, nausea and diarrhea in varying degrees of severity.
C.difficile produces spores that can be spread in the environment in large numbers when a person has diarrhea. These spores can survive for a long time in the environment and can be transported on the hands of people who have direct contact with infected people or with contaminated surfaces.
- C. difficile Care Plan for Acute and Residential Sites
- Bristol Stool Chart
- Room Placement for Patients with Diarrhea
- Stool Collection Algorithm
Norovirus Toolkit
Norovirus is a common virus that is passed from person to person and causes diarrhea, nausea and vomiting in the community and in hospitals. Most infections and outbreaks are seen during winter months and they can spread very quickly.
Norovirus affects people of all ages and since it is easily spread in areas where there are large numbers of people together for several days, hospitals are ideal environments for the virus.
The following PDF documents are informational tools for the treatment and management of GI Norovirus.
- Norovirus information
- Diarrhea and Vomiting Care Plan
- Bristol Stool Chart
- Room Placement for Patients with Diarrhea
- HealthLink BC - Norovirus
- GI Noro Tracking List
NORO-LIKE ILLNESS ALGORITHMS
- GI-1 Suspected Noro-Like Illness (NLI) All Health Facilities
- GI-3 Gastroenteritis or Noro-Like Illness (NLI) Outbreak in Island Health
- GI-NLI Staff Reporting Process and Return to Work Restrictions
Documents for LTC Affiliates and Private Facilities
- Outbreak Management: GI or Noro-Like Illness Outbreak in Island Health Long Term Care Affiliate & Private Facility
- LTC GI Surveillance Tracking Tool (Affiliate and Private Sites)
Influenza and Influenza-like Illness Toolkit
Influenza, while often confused with other influenza-like illnesses (ILI), especially the common cold, is a more severe disease caused by a different type of virus.
The most common symptoms of influenza and ILI are chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness/fatigue and general discomfort.
The following PDF documents are informational tools for use during an outbreak of Influenza or Influenza-like Illness.
- Influenza Information Sheet for Patients and Visitors
- Did you know...Influenza
- Recommendations for Booking Entertainment in Residential Care
- Influenza Vaccination & Prophylaxis Tracking Sheet
- VRI Patient Tracking List (PDF document)
- VRI Patient Tracking List (fillable Word doc)
- Residential Services Influenza Screening Tool Protocol
- Creatinine Results on LTC Residents
Viral Respiratory Illness (VRI) Algorithms
- VRI-1 Suspected Viral Respiratory Illness
- VRI-3 VRI Outbreak Declared
- VRI Staff Reporting Process and Return to Work Restrictions
Documents for LTC Affiliates and Private Facilities
- VRI Outbreak Declared (Affiliate and Private LTC sites)
- LTC Surveillance Tracking Tool (Affiliate and Private Sites)
- Respiratory Illness Checklist
MRSA Toolkit
Staphylococcus aureus are bacteria that commonly live in the nose, on skin and in moist areas of the body. However, Staphylococcus aureus can cause infections such as boils and abscesses. In the hospital it can cause serious infections in the blood, lungs or other areas for a person who is already ill or has had surgery.
The following PDF documents are informational tools for the management of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
CPO Toolkit
Multiple antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacilli are becoming increasingly common due both to selective antibiotic pressure as well as the movement of persons who have had medical care in other countries with endemic resistance patterns.
The following PDF documents are informational tools for the management of Carbapenemase Producing Organisms (CPO)