As we delve into the respiratory virus season, health systems and hospitals find themselves with minimal guidance from local and federal public health agencies. This observation is brought to us by Emily Landon, MD, the executive medical director of infection prevention and control at UChicago Medicine. In advocacy for those committed to safeguarding our health, Landon voices the crucial role of infection prevention and control staff in our hospitals. They act as our primary shield against infectious diseases and infections, implementing strategies such as masking and inspiring best practices against healthcare-acquired conditions.
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly transformed our outlook towards protective measures like masking and other interventions against respiratory viruses. The ambiguity around mask use and visitor regulations in hospitals are common concerns. Landon mentions that numerous regulations from local public health agencies and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that dictated our responses to the contagion, have now wrapped up with the conclusion of this virus season. In the scenario of absent directives from health agencies, obtaining clarity around a mask mandate in healthcare settings is strenuous yet the value of masking in curtailing respiratory virus spread stands irrefutable.
According to Landon, the type of mask worn can affect individual safety. An N95 mask is recommended when one needs protection from a nearby infected individual. In contrast, a surgical mask suffices to prevent the wearer from transmitting COVID or influenza to others. UChicago Medicine has introduced a sophisticated system to govern mask-wearing in this virus season, termed as the ‘masking ladder’. This system is managed by a multidisciplinary team including ambulatory staff, occupational medicine, pharmacy and infection control personnel.
This team meets weekly to evaluate a set of metrics that guide the movement across different levels of the ladder. The ladder system ranges in severity with the lowest grade advising staff to mask solely when feeling unwell. This escalates to the ‘orange level’ and mandates all staff involved in direct patient care to mask up in light of high respiratory virus spread in the community and among staff. In extreme circumstances marked by extensive hospital admissions due to respiratory viruses or significant staff illness, the ladder system moves to its apex – recommending universal masking inclusive of patients.
Despite these uncertain times in the current respiratory virus season, Landon assures that UChicago Medicine has managed to ascertain low infection rates within healthcare settings by diligently tracking hospital-acquired COVID, influenza, and RSV. Their successful virus containment strategy involves mask requisition for healthcare staff when infection among them is observed. This approach yields dual benefits: reduced mask utilization compared to the COVID period and prevention of disease transmission from healthcare workers to patients.
Source: https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/cmo/podcast-insights-infection-prevention-and-control