Toolkits for Infectious Diseases

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.

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.

NORO-LIKE ILLNESS ALGORITHMS

Documents for LTC Affiliates and Private Facilities

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.

Viral Respiratory Illness (VRI) Algorithms

Documents for LTC Affiliates and Private Facilities

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)

News & Events

First monkeypox case confirmed in Island Health, risk to the general public is very low

First monkeypox case confirmed in Island Health, risk to the general public is very low

One case of monkeypox has been confirmed in Island Health through laboratory testing at the BC Centre for Disease Control. The person resides in the south island. Island Health public health teams are conducting follow-up. The risk to the general public is very low. 

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parking sign

Pay parking resumes March 4, 2022

Effective March 4, 2022, pay parking will resume at all Island Health sites that previously had pay parking in place. 

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Caring for the Vulnerable

Caring for the Vulnerable

Healthcare professionals provide care in many settings, including hospitals, clinics, schools and people’s homes, but for those individuals who don’t have a fixed address and require care, some community health services staff go to them. 

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