A 30 year old female is evaluated in a local ER with Coryza, a low grade fever and a persistent cough on March 8. Labs are drawn and the patient is hospitalized but not isolated.
Respiratory therapy is ordered to relieve the cough and the patient is treated by the Respiratory Therapist (RT) for several days.
The patient receives a course of antibiotics and daily respiratory therapy and is discharged on March 12.
A 30 year old female is evaluated in a local ER with Coryza, a low grade fever and a persistent cough on March 8. Labs are drawn and the patient is hospitalized but not isolated.
Respiratory therapy is ordered to relieve the cough and the patient is treated by the Respiratory Therapist (RT) for several days.
The patient receives a course of antibiotics and daily respiratory therapy and is discharged on March 12.
The RT develops a cough with nasal discharge on March 15th, but continues to report for work.
The RT develops a cough with nasal discharge on March 15th, but continues to report for work.
He treats patients in several areas of the hospital, completing shifts on March 16, 18 and 20.
On March 20, the hospital’s occupational health unit informs the RT that the patient he treated tested positive for Pertussis.
He treats patients in several areas of the hospital, completing shifts on March 16, 18 and 20.
He is subsequently tested and treated with a 5 day course of Azithromycin (Z-pack) beginning on March 21.
On March 20, the hospital’s occupational health unit informs the RT that the patient he treated tested positive for Pertussis.
He is subsequently tested and treated with a 5 day course of Azithromycin (Z-pack) beginning on March 21.
On April 4, the RT is notified that he, too, tested positive for Pertussis prior to his course of treatment. The state and local health departments are notified of the results and the two confirmed cases of Pertussis in the health care facility are now considered to be an "outbreak."
As the infection control team in the hospital you have the responsibility of working with hospital administration, the infection control specialist and the state and local health departments to fully investigate this outbreak and assure the patients, hospital staff and health officials that there are no additional cases and that exposed, at risk patients are notified and treated.
On April 4, the RT is notified that he, too, tested positive for Pertussis prior to his course of treatment. The state and local health departments are notified of the results and the two confirmed cases of Pertussis in the health care facility are now considered to be an "outbreak."
A 30 year old female is evaluated in a local ER with Coryza, a low grade fever and a persistent cough on March 8. Labs are drawn and the patient is hospitalized but not isolated.
Respiratory therapy is ordered to relieve the cough and the patient is treated by the Respiratory Therapist (RT) for several days.
As the infection control team in the hospital you have the responsibility of working with hospital administration, the infection control specialist and the state and local health departments to fully investigate this outbreak and assure the patients, hospital staff and health officials that there are no additional cases and that exposed, at risk patients are notified and treated.