Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Hospitalized Patients with Known or Suspected Ebola Virus Disease in U.S. Hospitals

• Single patient room (containing a private bathroom) with the door closed
• Facilities should maintain a log of all persons entering the patient's room

• Consider posting personnel at the patient’s door to ensure appropriate and consistent use of PPE by all persons entering the patient room

 Guidance on Personal Protective Equipment To Be Used by Healthcare Workers During Management of Patients with Ebola Virus Disease in U.S. Hospitals, Including Procedures for Putting On (Donning) and Removing (Doffing)

• Dedicated medical equipment (preferably disposable, when possible) should be used for the provision of patient care
• All non-dedicated, non-disposable medical equipment used for patient care should be cleaned and disinfected according to manufacturer's instructions and hospital policies

• Limit the use of needles and other sharps as much as possible
• Phlebotomy, procedures, and laboratory testing should be limited to the minimum necessary for essential diagnostic evaluation and medical care
• All needles and sharps should be handled with extreme care and disposed in puncture-proof, sealed containers

• Avoid AGPs for patients with EVD.
• If performing AGPs, use a combination of measures to reduce exposures from aerosol-generating procedures when performed on Ebola HF patients.
• Visitors should not be present during aerosol-generating procedures.
• Limiting the number of HCP present during the procedure to only those essential for patient-care and support.
• Conduct the procedures in a private room and ideally in an Airborne Infection Isolation Room (AIIR) when feasible. Room doors should be kept closed during the procedure except when entering or leaving the room, and entry and exit should be minimized during and shortly after the procedure.
• HCP should wear appropriate PPE during aerosol generating procedures.
• Conduct environmental surface cleaning following procedures (see section below on environmental infection control).

• Although there are limited data available to definitively define a list of AGPs, procedures that are usually included are Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP), bronchoscopy, sputum induction, intubation and extubation, and open suctioning of airways.
• Because of the potential risk to individuals reprocessing reusable respirators, disposable filtering face piece respirators are preferred.

• HCP should perform hand hygiene frequently, including before and after all patient contact, contact with potentially infectious material, and before putting on and upon removal of PPE, including gloves.
• Healthcare facilities should ensure that supplies for performing hand hygiene are available.

• Hand hygiene in healthcare settings can be performed by washing with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rubs. If hands are visibly soiled, use soap and water, not alcohol-based hand rubs.

• Facilities should follow safe injection practices as specified under Standard Precautions.

• Any injection equipment or parenteral medication container that enters the patient treatment area should be dedicated to that patient and disposed of at the point of use.

• Duration of precautions should be determined on a case-by-case basis, in conjunction with local, state, and federal health authorities.

• Factors that should be considered include, but are not limited to: presence of symptoms related to EVD, date symptoms resolved, other conditions that would require specific precautions (e.g., tuberculosis, Clostridium difficile) and available laboratory information

• Facilities should develop policies for monitoring and management of potentially exposed HCP
• Facilities should develop sick leave policies for HCP that are non-punitive, flexible and consistent with public health guidance
  • Ensure that all HCP, including staff who are not directly employed by the healthcare facility but provide essential daily services, are aware of the sick leave policies.
• Persons with percutaneous or mucocutaneous exposures to blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions from a patient with suspected EVD should
  • Stop working and immediately wash the affected skin surfaces with soap and water. Mucous membranes (e.g., conjunctiva) should be irrigated with copious amounts of water or eyewash solution
  • Immediately contact occupational health/supervisor for assessment and access to postexposure management services for all appropriate pathogens (e.g., Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis C, etc.)
• HCP who develop sudden onset of fever, intense weakness or muscle pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or any signs of hemorrhage after an unprotected exposure (i.e. not wearing recommended PPE at the time of patient contact or through direct contact to blood or body fluids) to a patient with EVD should
  • Not report to work or should immediately stop working
  • Notify their supervisor
  • Seek prompt medical evaluation and testing
  • Notify local and state health departments
  • Comply with work exclusion until they are deemed no longer infectious to others
• For asymptomatic HCP who had an unprotected exposure (i.e. not wearing recommended PPE at the time of patient contact or through direct contact to blood or body fluids) to a patient with Ebola HF
  • Should receive medical evaluation and follow-up care including fever monitoring twice daily for 21 days after the last known exposure.
  • Hospitals should consider policies ensuring twice daily contact with exposed personnel to discuss potential symptoms and document fever checks

• Avoid entry of visitors into the patient's room
  • Exceptions may be considered on a case by case basis for those who are essential for the patient's wellbeing.
• Establish procedures for monitoring managing and training visitors.
• Visits should be scheduled and controlled to allow for:
  • Screening for EVD (e.g., fever and other symptoms) before entering or upon arrival to the hospital
  • Evaluating risk to the health of the visitor and ability to comply with precautions
  • providing instruction, before entry into the patient care area on hand hygiene, limiting surfaces touched, and use of PPE according to the current facility policy while in the patient's room
  • Visitor movement within the facility should be restricted to the patient care area and an immediately adjacent waiting area.

• Visitors who have been in contact with the EVD patient before and during hospitalization are a possible source of EVD for other patients, visitors, and staff.