email : Webview : 2019 nCoV – Message from APIC President

Dear APIC Member,

Thank you for all you are doing in this time of heightened attention to infection prevention and control in our nation’s healthcare facilities. You are in a unique position to lead in your facility to increase readiness for potential 2019 Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) cases to better protect healthcare workers, patients, and the public. You and your IP colleagues have the expertise in infection prevention and control measures, protocols, and implementation to advise and consult with your facility-wide infection control teams, front-line providers, administrators, and executives to respond to this potential outbreak. IPs are prepared and highly competent in containing not only 2019-nCoV, but also influenza which is currently a greater risk to U.S. patients.

APIC is closely following the evolving situation and is working on your behalf by helping to educate the media about the outbreak and about the IP’s role in infection prevention. We are in touch with CDC daily to receive advance word about forthcoming guidance and obtain information to help IPs implement appropriate policies at their facilities.

APIC Website Resources

The upper left corner of the APIC homepage includes a link to 2019-nCoV resources. At this time, we are directing members to the CDC and other organizations who are providing updated guidance in real-time. We encourage you to reach out to us with suggestions and let us know of guidance or resources that are needed by IPs to help manage this evolving situation. APIC will develop resources if we think there is a gap in resources that we can fill.

We would like to make you aware of the new 2019-nCov guidance and resources from CDC

Additional Information from CDC

Please note that all screening for Persons Under Investigation (PUIs) for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) will be coordinated through state and local health departments. They are in touch with the CDC Emergency Operations Center and will be able to ensure that specimens are properly prepared and sent.
At present, the CDC is not aware of specific patient risk factors for 2019-nCoV, so at this point it is safe to assume that populations at greater risk for infection, such as the elderly, very young, or immunocompromised, are at risk from this virus until we have more disease-specific information.
Additionally, CDC is developing guidance for specific situations as rapidly as possible. At present, EMS, environmental services, waste management, home health, and transport personnel should assume infection control guidelines posted for healthcare personnel applies to them as well.
Finally, CDC is currently actively investigating the epidemiology of 2019-nCoV in China and developing guidance to assist with infection prevention efforts in the United States. At present, they believe exposure is likely through close contact with other individuals infected with the virus.
If your hospital does not have an airborne infection isolation room (AIIR), isolate patients in a private room with a closed door.

Next Steps

Here are steps you may want to consider as the situation develops.

Talk with supply chain managers to ensure supplies are available when needed.
Stay abreast of the evolving situation through regular communication with your state and local health department, CDC, and APIC’s Voice for Infection Prevention (VIP) Action E-list.
Make sure you follow your facility’s emergency plans and that they include attention to CDC guidance on travel history, and on identifying patients, promptly isolating them, and informing infection prevention and public health officials.
You are the experts who best understand practices to limit the spread of respiratory viruses. Ensure that these emergency practices are actively followed.
Remind staff of their training on the proper donning and doffing of PPE, including eye protection, to protect themselves and patients.
Although you may not be faced with this situation currently, it may be a good idea to review NIOSH guidelines for extended use or limited re-use of N-95s.

We know that at this critical time of leadership for you, that you need our support more than ever. We will continue to dedicate efforts to addressing the issues that APIC members need and will communicate with you as the outbreak situation evolves. As always, please continue to send your feedback and thoughts on how APIC can help make your job easier to us at practice@apic.org. Thanks for all you do.

Sincerely yours,

Connie Steed, MSN, RN, CIC, FAPIC

2020 APIC President

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