GI Infection Control

Question 1

How to assess diarrhoea?

Answer 1

Assess how likely it is to be infectious (not all diarrhoea is due to infection):
Side room
Infectious disease unit (Salmonella, E.coli O157)

Question 2

What organisms, other than those that cause diarrhoea, are spread by the faecal-oral route?

Answer 2

Hepatitis A and E
Resistant bacteria in the GI tract, e.g: vancomycin-resistant enterococci, highly resistant gram negative organisms (CPEs)

Question 3

Control of diarrhoea in hospital?

Answer 3

Standard infection control precautions

Contact precautions

Prescribe antibiotics sensibly to reduce C. diff risk

If a doctor develops diarrhoea that is likely infectious, stay off work until 48 hours after symptoms have stopped

Question 4

What are standard infection control precautions?

Answer 4

All patients with diarrhoea that might be infectious should be placed in a single room with own toilet

Cohort nursing in bays may be required during outbreaks on wards

Wards may be closed to new admissions

Increased ward cleaning/disinfection of surfaces required

Question 5

What are contact precautions?

Answer 5

Hand washing rather than alcohol gel, particularly for patient with C diff (spores survive hand gel)

Gloves

Apron or gown if contamination anticipated

Single use items of equipment

Cleaning/disinfection of items with hypochlorite, terminal disinfection of room

Report exposure to contaminated material