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Occupational Health �Employee Health�for the IP ��

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Key Concepts

  • Reasons for developing an Employee Health Program

  • Elements of an Employee Health Program

  • Transmission of infection to and from the health care personnel

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Key Concepts

  • Common infectious processes with indications for post exposure intervention

  • Work restrictions in the healthcare facility

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Key Concepts

  • Worker’s Compensation

  • Measuring improvement in preventing occupational exposure

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Background

  • Regulatory Compliance: OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
    • Organizational Resources and recommended practices: IPs are called on to provide credible references to support the policies and practices that are in place

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Employee Health Plan and Risk Assessment

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HCP

Health Care Personnel

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HCP: A Definition

  • All paid and unpaid persons (i.e. volunteers, lay chaplains) working in healthcare settings who have the potential for exposure to infectious materials, including body substances, contaminated medical supplies and equipment, contaminated environmental surfaces, or contaminated air.

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Design of an OH/EH Program

  • Communication with other departments is vital

    • Proper isolation of contagion by nursing staff

    • Reporting exposures

    • Proper identification of employee with contagion

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Design

  • Pre-employment physical exams have not been demonstrated to be cost effective

  • Medical evaluations performed before placement might identify worker risk for infection and whose placement may need to be considered carefully

  • Periodic evaluations may need to be performed for job assignments or work related problems

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Design

  • Staff education may contribute to workers’ compliance with IP practices through understanding of rationale (Why we do the things we do?)

  • Existing federal, state, and local regulations for staff education and training

  • Management of job related illnesses, exposures and post-exposure follow up is mandated by regulatory agencies

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Design

  • Work restrictions may be indicated for workers who have transmissible illnesses. The facility should have a process in place to identify who has the authority to remove the worker from duty
  • Maintenance of records, data management, and confidentiality are major requirements of OH/EH programs
  • Know who can have access to HCP files
  • Separate HR file from EH file.

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Design

  • Health counseling should be available about occupational and community infection risks

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Immunization Programs

    • Hepatitis B
    • Influenza
    • MMR
    • Varicella
    • Pertussis
    • Tdap
    • COVID
    • VIS (Vaccine information sheets from CDC)

Recommended immunization practices are addressed by the US Public Health Service’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)

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Resources

  • MMWR; November 25, 2011

Immunization of Health-care Personnel

  • APIC Text. 4th Edition, Chapter 103

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Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B

Give 3-dose series (dose #1 now, #2 in 1 month, #3 approximately 5 months after #2). Give IM. Obtain anti-HBs serologic testing 1–2 months after dose #3.

New 2 dose vaccine (HEPLISAV-B) give 2 doses IM, 1 month apart. Obtain anti-HBs serologic testing 1–2 months after dose #2.

Hepatitis B recombinant vaccine

For HCWs at risk of exposure to blood and body fluids

Test for immunity 1-2 months following 3rd dose

If declines must sign declination statement.

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Influenza (reportable to NHSN)

INFLUENZA

Give 1 dose of influenza vaccine annually. Give inactivated injectable influenza vaccine intramuscularly or live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) intranasal.

All HCPs with direct patient care, however emphasis should be on ALL HCP.

Contraindicated if SEVERE egg allergy only.

Egg –free vaccine now available.

Declination if not taking flu vaccine (CMS)

Begin staff education stressing the importance of immunization annually

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Mumps, Measles, Rubella�

MMR

For healthcare personnel (HCP) born in 1957 or later without serologic evidence of immunity or prior vaccination, give 2 doses of MMR, 4 weeks apart. Give SC.

HCP born in 1957 or later can be considered immune to measles, mumps, or rubella ONLY if they have documentation of

(a) laboratory confirmation of disease or immunity, or

(b) appropriate vaccination against measles, mumps, and rubella (i.e., 2 doses of live measles and mumps vaccines given on or after the first birthday, separated by 28 days or more, and at least 1 dose of live rubella vaccine).

Consider recommending 2 doses of MMR vaccine routinely to unvaccinated HCP born before 1957 who do not have laboratory evidence of disease or immunity to measles and/or mumps, and should consider one dose of MMR for HCP with no laboratory evidence of disease or immunity to rubella.

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Varicella

Varicella

For HCP who have no serologic proof of immunity, prior vaccination, give 2 doses of varicella vaccine, 4 weeks apart. Give SC.

Evidence of immunity in HCP includes documentation of 2 doses of varicella vaccine given at least 28 days apart, laboratory evidence of immunity, or physician confirmation of disease.

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Tetanus diphtheria acellular pertussis Tdap

Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis

Give a one-time dose of Tdap as soon as feasible to all HCP who have not received Tdap previously. Give Td boosters every 10 years thereafter.

Start with high risk areas such as Pediatrics, Nursery, NICU, and ER. Respiratory personnel.

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Meningococcal

Meningococcal

Vaccination is recommended for microbiologists who are routinely exposed to isolates of N. meningitidis.

Preferred vaccine is MCV4 for HCP

Meningococcal conjugated vaccine – 4 types of meningitis

Use MPSV4 (polysaccharide) only if there is a permanent contraindication or precaution to MCV4.

Use of MPSV4 (not MCV4) is recommended for HCP older than age 55.

References

1. CDC. Immunization of Health-Care Personnel: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR, 2011; 60(RR-7).

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Post Exposure Management

  • Meningitis
    • Neisseria meningitidis
    • H. flu

  • TB
    • Baseline IGRA and again at 8-10 weeks after exposure

  • Varicella
    • Days 10-21 post exposure

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Post Exposure Management

  • Pertussis
    • Within 21 days post exposure to asymptomatic contacts
    • Incubation 7 – 10 days

  • Blood borne Pathogens
    • OSHA
    • CDC / PEP Line
    • APIC Text

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Index case- verify the diagnosis

Is the patient infectious?

Yes

No

Was barrier protection absent or breached?

No action

Yes

No

No action

Identify exposed individuals

Is individual susceptible?

No

Yes

No action

Does disease have potential for further spread?

No

Yes

Do therapeutic measures for treatment exist?

No

Yes

Monitor employee for symptoms/work restrictions

Implement intervention measures

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Tuberculosis

  • CDC published recommendations for controlling the spread of TB in healthcare facilities (updated 2019)

  • OSHA has a compliance directive addressing occupational exposure to TB

  • OSHA’s General Duty Clause requires each employer to provide it’s employees a place of employment free from recognized hazards

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TB evaluation of NEW employees

  • IGRA blood test (QuantiFERON Gold or T-Spot)
  • If using PPD skin testing, 2 step is mandatory for ALL employees
  • Job description makes NO difference
  • Fit testing a MUST for those with patient contact. Check OSHA risk in job description.

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Annual TB evaluation

  • EVERY employee must have an annual evaluation, symptoms survey

  • No longer do annual TB testing for low risk facilities

  • Do IGRA/TST if symptoms survey reveals changes, signs/symptoms and possible exposure

  • Fit testing must be assessed annually for those with patient contact

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Annual TB evaluation

  • TB conversion – do CXR and send for treatment. (Health department)

  • Document treatment in Employee file.

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Employee fit testing for N-95 respirator

OSHA requires fit testing

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Fit testing Procedures

Quantitative Fit Test (QNFT) Protocols

      • Ambient aerosol condensation nuclei counter (CNC) quantitative fit testing protocol (Porta count TM )

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Technique Matters !

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Technique

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Measure induration only not the redness.

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Protocol for Occupational Exposure to Pertussis Supplement A

Documented occupational exposure

to confirmed Pertussis case

Azithromycin 600 mg/day

orally

for five (5) days

If macrolide tolerant

If macrolide intolerant

TMP-SMX 320/1600 mg

/day

in two divided doses orally

for fourteen (14) days

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VARICELLA EVALUATION

Consider immune

Consider non-immune

All new hires

Positive history of chicken pox

OR

Positive history of vaccination

Unknown history of chicken pox

OR

Negative or unknown history of

vaccination

Draw VZIG

If positive,

consider immune

If negative,

offer vaccine

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Staff Exposed to Varicella

Report to Staff Health & Safety

(Occupational or Community Exposure)

History of Varicella

Vaccinated or

unknown history

Negative VZIG

Consider immune

Offer vaccine if

within 72 hrs or

VZIG within 96 hrs

Consider non-immune

  1. Mask employee days 10-21
  2. Self assessment daily for symptoms
  3. Notify Health Staff if symptoms

appear

Draw VZIG

Positive

Staff Health to verify as

Varicella (IgM, IgG and

vesicle culture for VZV)

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Defining Exposure

MENINGOCOCCAL MENINGITIS EXPOSURE

Definition of Exposure: Contact with or face to face (mouth to mouth resuscitation, intubation, suctioning to infectious person’s

respiratory secretions

Timeframe for Prophylaxis: Within two days of date of first exposure Incubation Period-2 to 10 days

VARICELLA (CHICKENPOX) EXPOSURE

Definition of Exposure: Direct contact with vesicles or airborne (shared air contact) with infectious person

Timeframe for Prophylaxis: Within 96 hours of exposure for seronegative and unvaccinated, immunocompromised or pregnant staff

Incubation Period-10-28 days

The following employees have authority to initiate the above prescriptions as needed for occupational exposures:

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BBP Exposure

  • Determine HIV status of patient & employee (rapid testing if possible)
  • Determine HEP B status of patient & employee (check employee HBAB)
  • Determine HEP C status of patient & employee
  • Reportable in the OSHA log 300

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BBP exposure Follow-Up

  • If all patient labs are negative nothing further needs to be done.
  • If positive, offer PEP, vaccines, and follow-up lab work.
  • If no patient is identified continue with follow-up lab work. It is assumed the patient is positive until proven otherwise.

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Post Exposure Interventions

Work Restrictions

    • www.cdc.gov
    • APIC Text of Infection Control and Epidemiology

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Workman’s Compensation

  • IP may be asked to help assess situation to determine if a worker has experienced occupational acquisition of infectious agent or disease

  • Workman’s comp programs vary from state to state. TX is under Insurance division. Division of Worker’s Compensation(DWC).

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Workman’s Compensation

  • Components may include medical benefits, weekly compensation, safety and rehab programs

  • Eligible if occupational exposure is sole cause of the disease or accident

  • Burden of proof lies with the workers

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Workman’s Compensation

  • Most states don’t provide compensation for a disease that is an ordinary disease of life
    • Stroke
    • Heart attack
    • TB – W/C in Texas must be able to attach employee to actual patient diagnosed with active TB

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Measuring Improvement in Occupational Exposure Prevention

  • Epidemiologic approach can be taken to manage occupational exposures
  • Reductions or increases in injuries or exposures are monitored over time
  • Causes can be identified
  • Variations are analyzed
  • Prevention strategies are designed and implemented

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Rates measuring performance

  • Average daily census of occupied beds for the year can be used as denominator
    • Total number of needle sticks reported in one year
    • Divided by the total number of occupied beds in one year
    • Equals the number of needle sticks per bed per year
    • Benchmarks are available from the AOHP

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Sit Back and Relax...

it really does all come together

Thank You!!!