ATLANTA, Jun 18, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Half of U.S. healthcare personnel
infected with influenza A H1N1 acquired it in a healthcare setting, health
officials said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Mortality and Morbidity Weekly
Report said those infected by ill patients did not consistently use all
recommended forms of personal protective equipment while caring for those
patients.
The CDC obtained detailed information on 26 healthcare personnel infected with
the novel influenza A H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, of which 12 were
deemed to be infected by ill patients.
None of the healthcare personnel infected by ill patients reported fully
adhering to CDC's recommendations on infection control for care of patients with
the H1N1 virus infection in healthcare settings.
Healthcare facilities need to maintain adherence to infection control
recommendations, to recognize and triage potentially infectious patients, to
provide adequate infection-control resources and to train staff in
infection-control practices and proper use of personal protective equipment.
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Copyright 2009 by United Press International