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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Rachel Plotinsky, MD, Office of Workforce and Career Development, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NH DHHS, 29 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301, 603-271-7397, plotinsky@hotmail.com, Deb Yeager, New Hampshire Hospital Association, 125 Airport Road, Concord, NH 03301, Jody Schweitzer, MPH, Bureau of Disease Control and Health Statistics, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, 29 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301, and Elizabeth A. Talbot, MD, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Disease Control and Health Statistics, 29 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301.

Background: In 2003, CDC recommended Airborne Infection Isolation (AII) to prevent epidemics of contagious respiratory diseases. To increase statewide AII capacity, New Hampshire (NH) Department of Health and Human Services provided 62 portable AII units to 28 NH hospitals. These units create negative pressure and can also be used to filter air. Recipients received training for technical preparedness and retrofitting rooms for unit use. One year after distribution, we evaluated AII unit use to create guidelines for operation, maintenance, and deployment of portable isolation units. Methods: We administered a 35-item questionnaire regarding use of AII units and technical preparedness to operate units to infection-control practitioners at NH hospitals. We completed onsite inspections of units by using a 30-point checklist. Results: All 28 NH hospitals were visited; 61% had retrofitted rooms for AII units; 71% had developed their own use guidelines; and 50% had used the units. Units were used more often to filter air than for AII. Of respondents, 81% were “very confident” they knew when to use the unit, and 85% were “very confident” it could be turned on successfully; however, only 62% were “very confident” that negative pressure would be correctly monitored. From the checklist, all respondents stored units where they were accessible; 82% had accessible retrofit materials; and 75% had a plan for monitoring negative pressure. Conclusions: Although hospital personnel feel prepared to use AII units, full preparedness is incomplete. State technical assistance in retrofitting rooms and monitoring of negative pressure would enhance AII effectiveness.

Learning Objectives:

• To describe one state's approach to increasing airborne infection isolation capacity by distributing portable isolation units
• To evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of those who received portable isolation units in New Hampshire

Keywords: Hospitals, Evaluation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered