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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Wayne Turnberg, MSPH, PhD Cand, Bioterrorism Response Epidemiologist, Washington State Department of Health, 1610 NE 150th Street, MS:K17-9, Seattle, WA 98105, 206-418-5559, Wayne.Turnberg@doh.wa.gov, William E. Daniell, MD MPH, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Box 357234, Seattle, WA 98195-7234, and Jeffery Duchin, MD, Chief, Communicable Disease Control, Epidemiology & Immunization Section, Public Health-Seattle & King County, Associate Professor in Medicine, Division of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, 999 3rd Ave, Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98104.

We examined compliance with CDC infection control guidelines to protect primary care and emergency department staff from acquiring and spreading respiratory infections during the initial care of undiagnosed patients. We also examined healthcare worker awareness and knowledge of infectious disease surveillance and notifiable condition reporting systems. We surveyed physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nursing staff, technicians, and receptionists at primary and emergency care settings of five medical centers in King County, Washington. Anonymous self-report questionnaires were distributed to 1,241 health care workers from July to November 2005, with 654 returned (response rate, 53%). Respiratory infection control practices will be analyzed in relation to demographics, safety climate, individual views, and knowledge of infectious disease surveillance. Infection control practices included hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment, respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette. We observed 70% reporting practicing hand hygiene before having direct contact with a patient, and 55% after removing disposable gloves. Sixty-three percent reported that disposable face masks are offered to coughing patients when they present for care. Twenty-six percent reported that patients with flu-like symptoms are placed in a private examination room as soon as possible. Sixty-eight percent reported that they annually received an influenza vaccination. Sixty-one percent reported that their employer provided them with timely information about infectious diseases in the greater community, and 66% within their medical center. Significant improvements are needed in implementation of currently recommended infection control measures in acute care settings.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Describe respiratory infection control practices among a cohort of healthcare workers in primary and emergency care settings.
• Describe surveillance and notifiable condition reporting knowledge among this cohort of workers.
• Recognize variations in practices and knowledge between different kinds of healthcare workers and settings.
• Articulate how safety climate, demographic and individual characteristics, and psychosocial factors influence observance and knowledge.

Keywords: Health Care Workers, Infectious Diseases

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation