Hello Rafaela

I understand that is happening in James Hospital (3 masks) and then other hospitals are supplying 4 masks per staff per day.  In our hospital we are advising standard surgical masks for all staff in contact with patient and all staff in contact with staff <2 metres and > 15 minutes, leave mask maximum time 3 hours or change when go…[Read more]

Sent on behalf of Brenda:

Thanks LenoraWe are doing the same as yourselvesIt was one of the surgeons who brought up the idea of the contaminated PPE in OT and was wondering should they changeBrendaBrenda O’Sullivan-ConnollyInfection Prevention and Control CNSBon Secours HospitalCollege RoadCork T12DV56Tel:021 4801619 

Hello Brenda

The anaesthetic team wear the full PPE including FFP2 masks on intubation and leave it on for the duration of surgery to allow for protection on extubation.  We are extubating patients in theatre to reduce risk for the PACU staff.

Only the anesthetist and the anaesthetic nurse is present during intubation and extubation to further…[Read more]

Thank you Ann for the enclosed.

It is indeed multifactorial.  There is more much literature to read and opinions to listen to, it can be overwhelming.

Kind regards

Lenora

Chair IPCIreland

REMINDER: ACUTE WEBINAR AT 12NOON
Invitation to COVID-19 IPC webinar

Topic: IPC  Interim  Guidance for COVID-19 Management in Acute hospitals

Presented by HPSC AMRIC Team
Prof.  Martin Cormican , National HCAI Clinical Lead  and Mary McKenna,  IPCN,

Date and time : Friday, April 3, 2020 from  12 -1pm,

Event number: 144 014 082
Event passwor…[Read more]

REMINDER: COMMUNITY WEBINAR AT 10AM

 
Invitation to COVID-19 IPC webinar for Community  Residential Facilities and in-patient facilities outside of acute hospitals

Topic: IPC  Interim  Guidance for COVID-19 for Community  Residential Facilities and in-patient facilities outside of acute hospitals

Presented by HPSC AMRIC Team :   Prof.  Mart…[Read more]

From Alison:

LenoraWe’re having the same problems however this has been led by one Consultant.I understand that during the ISCM conference call with the AMRIC team last week Martin specifically discussed the use of masks for all patients. This was disagreed with emphatically as unnecessary.The attached was issued as a response to several…[Read more]

From Noeleen:

Hi Lenora,I’m sticking to the HPSC guidance on the wearing of PPE  but its a hard sell in all areas.Keep the cool we can only follow the guidance. Helen Murphy sent out info from Prof Cormican yesterday its an ongoing challenge…Keep safe,Kind Regards

Noeleen Hallahan
Infection Prevention  & Control CNM2
PHN Department
Louth C…[Read more]

Hi Fiona,

The 5 Ltr containers are from Semad, in Baldoyle D13 01 8464378 but I’m not sure if they were supplied to us through HSE Tullamore into our supplier – Critical Healthcare also in Tullamore or if Critical bought them directly from Semad. In general we have a small steady supply of tottle sized hand gel so the 5Ltr is more  a back up…[Read more]

From Fiona Ryan:

Hi Ciarán. Thanks for all the info. We’re having the same issue with alcohol hand gel. Are you sourcing your 5 litre AHR from Ecolab or do you have another supplier. Smaller volumes are literally walking out of the hospital! Thanks a lot.
Fiona Ryan

Addendum From Alison:

Meant to add that this applies to our 2 COVID wards, one known cases and the other suspect cases from ED.Alison MaguinnessCNM3 Infection prevention and controlRGN., RM., MSc HIM., HDip Inf Control, Ortho  TExtn 7489 / Bleep #7047Direct line 6639829Ea.maguinness2@stmichaels.ie  http://www.stmichaels.ie

From Alison:

LenoraWe continue to use FFP2/3 masks (for the moment) for the HCW entering a room with known or suspect COVID.The buddy wears a surgical maskAll PPE except the goggles are changed each timeGoggles are cleaned inside the room with clean Clinell wipes handed to the buddy and cleaned again.they use disposable kidney dishes for storage…[Read more]

The ziplock bag is a good idea Ciaran.  It  is indeed unusual times and reusing items or top-up of containers is generally not recommended but everyone is doing their best.

Take care.

Lenora

Hi Lenora,

The things that we wouldn’t normally countenance! We have instructed staff to have a personal issue set of Goggles which they clean themselves using Clinell Universal wipes allowing 60 seconds contact time as we have no real equivalent or access to CSSD. They are directed to store in provided ziplock bags with their name / staff ID…[Read more]