General Information

All clinicians, staff, and students must be familiar with the infectious disease protocols.
The senior clinician is ultimately responsible for ensuring each case is managed in compliance with established protocols.
No action will be taken to prejudice the health of the patient or other patients in the hospital.
The Infectious Disease Committee (or IDC chair/co-chair) will arbitrate any queries or disagreement over interpretation of the protocol and will investigate any failure to comply with a decision
Any subsequent variations to a procedure must be approved by the IDC.
A patient presented with a wound or infection site that has remained unresolved following previous antibiotic therapy, must have a sample submitted for culture and sensitivity at the initial examination.

The hospitals standard practice is to apply a clean pair of exam gloves directly before handling any patient that poses a threat of harboring potential zoonoses, pathogens, or anitmicrobial-resistent organisms.
Senior clinicians can approve exceptions to glove use, when patient safety is at risk. Clinician will ensure appropriate washing and hand disinfection immediately after patient handling.
Exam gloves “belong” to the patient. This means we apply clean gloves directly before handling the patient and dispose of them immediately upon finishing our treatment / examination.
- Common mistakes include applying exam gloves, then using a keyboard, using a computer mouse, going to prep meds, leaving the area and touching door handles, etc, before handling the patient. This creates the potential for the gloves to be contaminated before ever touching the patient.
- The other mistake is failing to dispose of the exam gloves immediately following examination or treatment. You then risk contaminating the environment around you, like keyboards, desktops, door knobs, etc.

Anytime your hands have become soiled they must be washed with soap and water.
Furthermore, your hands should be disinfected in between each patient contact. So, disinfection each time is required. Hand washing should be implemented when necessary.