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- Title
A summary of reported infection prevention and control assessments conducted in long-term care and retirement homes during COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada.
- Authors
Denich, Tanya; Quirk, Jacquelyn; Richard, Catherine
- Abstract
Background: Public Health Ontario (PHO) infection prevention and control (IPAC) specialists provided field support during the COVID-19 pandemic by conducting on-site and virtual IPAC assessments to long-term care and retirement homes (LTC/RHs) between April 2020 and June 2021. Reports from these IPAC assessments were analyzed and the most common challenges were identified. Methods: IPAC specialists in collaboration with local public health units (PHU) conducted 139 on-site and 33 virtual visits to LTC/RHs in Ontario, using an assessment tool developed by PHO. Following each assessment, a report with findings and recommendations for enhancing IPAC practices in the LTC/RHs were shared with the home and PHU. A thematic analysis of the reports found common challenges in several areas. Results: Analysis of 172 assessment reports identified challenges and gaps in several areas resulting in a total of 415 recommendations made to LTC/RHs. Recommendation areas addressed included: personal protective equipment (PPE) use -- 115 (28%), screening process -- 89 (21%), physical distancing -- 66 (16%), environmental cleaning -- 66 (16%), hand hygiene -- 44 (11%), cohorting -- 26 (6%), and other areas -- 9 (2%). Inappropriate use and reuse of PPE, such as universal wearing of full droplet and contact PPE regardless of resident COVID-19 status and double masking were observed. Other common themes included incorrect screening and physical distancing practices, and improper use of the disinfecting wipes and cleaning products. Often, there was no defined process for cleaning high-touch surfaces or tracking when cleaning had occurred and deficiencies in the auditing process were noted. Conclusion: These findings highlight pre-existing IPAC challenges as well as new issues in LTC/RHs infection prevention and control efforts. The data in this report may be useful in identifying additional actions to support the needs of IPAC leads in these settings. Comprehensive support through coaching/mentorship, and the creation of resources to implement IPAC programs and capacity-building interventions with LTC/RH IPAC leads are needed.
- Subjects
CANADA; INFECTION prevention; SANITATION; ENVIRONMENTAL health; INTERPROFESSIONAL relations; PERSONAL protective equipment; HUMAN services programs; LONG-term health care; RETIREMENT; HAND washing; PANDEMIC preparedness; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; THEMATIC analysis; LONGITUDINAL method; STERILIZATION (Disinfection); MEDICAL masks; COMMUNICATION; PUBLIC health; COVID-19 pandemic; SOCIAL distancing
- Publication
Canadian Journal of Infection Control / Revue Canadienne de Prévention des Infections, 2024, Vol 39, Issue 1, p51
- ISSN
1183-5702
- Publication type
Article