Hepatits B and Hepatitis C can be a risk in long-term care settings.
For many long-term care providers and patients, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C may not be at the forefront of their concerns. But, the reality is, many of your customers – as well as those they care for – are at risk of contracting these diseases, much the same as their counterparts in hospitals and other healthcare settings.
Outbreaks of Hepatitis B virus and Hepatitis C virus have occurred in outpatient settings – including long-term care facilities – primarily as a result of unsafe injection practices, and reuse of needles, fingerstick devices and syringes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In fact, unbeknownst to some, Hepatitis C virus is the most common chronic bloodborne infection in the United States. Approximately 3.2 million individuals countrywide are chronically infected with the virus, which is often transmitted through large or repeated percutaneous exposure to infected blood, according to the CDC.
Infection control is key
In the past, healthcare workers in long-term care facilities have been known to re-use blood glucose monitoring equipment, such as fingerstick devices, from one patient to the next, increasing the risk of transmitting viral hepatitis and other bloodborne pathogens. For this reason, the CDC offers the following infection control recommendations in long-term care settings:
- When treating diabetic patients:
- Single-patient insulin pens and insulin cartridges should not be used to administer medication to multiple patients.
- Medications, such as insulin, should be prepared in a centralized medication area, and multiple-dose insulin vials should be assigned to individual patients and labeled appropriately.
- Surfaces and equipment, such as glucometers, should be decontaminated regularly, or whenever they are contaminated with blood and body fluids.
- Trays and carts used to deliver medication/supplies should remain outside patient rooms.
- Nurses/healthcare workers should not carry supplies and medication in their pockets.
- Unused supplies and medication taken to one patient’s bedside should not be used for another patient.
- Glucometers should be assigned to individual patients and used appropriately.
- Glucose test meters approved for use with more than one patient should be cleaned and disinfected after each use.
- Needles, lancets and syringes should NEVER be reused.
- Use of fingerstick capillary blood sampling devices should be restricted to individual patients.
- Healthcare workers should only use single-use lancets that permanently retract upon puncture.
- Fingerstick devices and lancets should be disposed of at point of use, in an approved sharps container.
- Used and unused equipment and supplies should be stored separately.
- Gloves should be:
- Worn whenever the procedure involves fingersticks, needle sticks or potential exposure to blood and body fluids.
- Changed between patient contact.
- Changed after touching potentially blood-contaminated objects or fingerstick wounds before touching clean surfaces.
- Discarded in appropriate receptacles following every procedure involving potential exposure to blood or body fluids.
- Hand hygiene:
- Should be performed (e.g., handwashing with soap and water or the use of an alcohol-based hand rub) immediately following glove removal and before touching other medical supplies intended for use on other patients.
The CDC recommends that long-term care administrators provide their healthcare practitioners, workers and staff with a full Hepatitis B vaccination series. In addition, administrators should establish oversight for infection-control activities and compliance. Attention to details up front can mean peace of mind for your long-term-care customers in the future.